#peeta what��s your sexuality?

[nightlocked-in]

“peeta is bisexual” you guys are losing the vision. peeta isn’t even straight. katniss INVENTED sexuality for him. whatever katniss identifies as, he’s like “yeah, i’ll take that one” no questions asked

[myadmiringmind]

Days at Home | Peeta Mellark

Peeta Mellark Masterlist

Word Count: 2.4k

Genre: Domestic fluff | slice of life

Pairing(s): Peeta Mellark x Fem!Wife!Reader

Summary: A simple life has never felt so sweet.

Warning(s): Children (some ppl don’t like them), food, non-sexual nudity

Note(s):

Can be read as AU or not

Established relationship

Peeta and reader have children

Reader is able to have children

Children call reader “Mom”

|PICTURES ARE NOT MINE|

———————————————

You blink, your brain foggy in your half conscious state.

All you can see is darkness, but register the familiar warmth beneath you. Immediately you know it’s Peeta. His chest rises and falls as he sleeps peacefully with his arm curled around you protectively, keeping you close to him.

Peeta is always warm. Which doesn’t hurt now that fall has begun, but it does make it harder to leave in the mornings.

You snuggle up into him, your face going into his neck. Everything about him makes you feel at home.

Even though you try to fall back asleep you know it won’t happen. You savor the last few moments before you’ll push yourself out of bed.

But when you try to get up, Peeta’s arms tighten.

“What’s wrong, baby?” His voice is laced with sleep and you know he’s only barely awake.

“I’m going to get a shower.” You answer quietly

“What?” He uses his other hand to rub his eyes as he struggles through the haziness of sleep.

“I’m going to get a shower.” You repeat a little louder.

Peeta looks over at the curtains to glance outside, “The sun isn’t up yet. We can sleep for a couple more hours.”

You shake your head, the fact that he won’t be able to see it not present in your thoughts, “I tried, but I’m already awake. Go back to bed, honey.” Carefully moving off of his chest, you retreat back to your side of the bed.

Peeta protests, “Can’t sleep without you.”

“You sure? It’s pretty early.” You say with guilt from disrupting his rest.

Peeta’s nod is barely noticeable in the dark, “Maybe the shower will wake me up.”

You hear the bed creak, Peeta’s loud footsteps, and then the overhead light is turned on.

You flinch from the sudden brightness and hear Peeta chuckle, “Sorry, baby.” He sounds amused.

The sound of his heavy footsteps fill the otherwise quiet room while you rub your eyes.

You feel the familiar roughness of Peeta’s hand tilt your head up and give you a loving kiss to your forehead.

“I’ll go start the shower.” He says before disappearing into the ensuite bathroom.

You use the little time alone to pick out an outfit. You lay it out on the small ottoman at the end of your bed next to the outfit that Peeta chose for himself the night before. You laugh quietly at seeing the simple white button up with tan pants. He barely gets cold in fall.

“Better hurry unless we want to waste all of the hot water, sweetheart.” Peeta teases from the bathroom door.

-------------------

You and Peeta have been together for a little over ten years, so it’s only natural for the two of you to move in such a way that is familiar and routinely.

Peeta always lets you step into the shower first, he lets you soak under the warm water before it’s his turn. Then, he’ll pull you into his chest for a sweet hug, just letting the two of you bask into the warmth of each other. He’s constantly giving you kisses, on your shoulder, your neck, and your face.

One time, you were running late for an event and had the misfortune of a quick shower. The usual intimacy the two of you shared was skipped over leaving the both of you feeling a little more uneasy than normal.

In fact, it seemed to be the only thing driving Peeta’s mind that day as he would make little comments about his day not starting off right whenever given the chance.

It didn’t matter that the two of you were exhausted by the end of the day. The bath was still ran, and the two of you relaxed in there to make up for what you lost in the morning, even though both of you were on the verge of sleep.

The memory of that day effectively reminds you just how much the small moments you spend together matter to you.

Back in the present, Peeta’s hands rubbed up and down your back, making you shiver.

Your shower routine was done before you could properly savor it and Peeta was wrapping the soft towel around your body, keeping you warm after stepping out into the cool air.

“We have a few hours until the kids are up, what’s on your mind?” Peeta asks, rubbing your arms for extra warmth.

“Food.” You answer immediately.

Peetas laugh echos in your bathroom and your eyes catch his grin through the mirror.

“Anything for you, sweetheart.”

———————————

Peeta is an expert in the kitchen.

You’re not bad, but it’s obvious which one of you is better. You can’t really complain, anything Peeta makes you love. Maybe it’s because he grew up as a baker, maybe it’s because he puts love into everything he does, or maybe it’s just because you adore him.

You can’t say that it was a quiet morning, with constant chatter between you two, laughs, and kisses, it wasn’t at all quiet.

While your breakfast is in the pan, Peeta puts on a record containing music from your wedding. He sways with you, grinning at each other even when you're moving too slow for an upbeat song.

“The little ones will be up soon.” You comment, seeing the time on the clock.

Peeta’s arms wrap around your waist, his head on your shoulder, still swaying slightly, “Good, I don’t want to have to reheat the food for them.”

It was a classic breakfast. Fluffy chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, bacon, bread, jam (that you made from your fruit garden), and of course the bowls of fruit that you had picked freshly this morning.

“We should go wake them up then.” You said

You felt Peeta’s nod as he pulled you up the stairs.

—————————

Your eldest slept peacefully. You almost felt bad waking him up.

You moved to open the curtains, letting the natural light into his bedroom. You saw him stir at the unfiltered light.

“Hey bud, it’s time to wake up.” Peeta whispered, gently shaking him.

Your seven year old clutched his deer stuffed-animal closer to his body.

You walked over, and sat on the edge so you could shake him.

“Rise and shine, honey.” You pressed a kiss to his cheek.

Slowly but surely, his eyes slowly opened.

“Dad?” He noticed you next, “Mom….is it time to get up already.” He mumbled

Peeta chuckled softly, “Yeah bud, we’ve got the whole day ahead.”

Your son only yawns in response.

“We made breakfast.” You offer, and your son pauses.

“What kind of breakfast?” He asks

“Pancakes, bacon, bread, jam, the whole feast.” Peeta answers

“Okay.” He pushes back the covers and stretches once he stands.

He gives Peeta a hug and a kiss first, then you bend down so he can give you one too.

“Let’s go wake up your sister.” You say, following your son out of his bedroom door with Peeta close behind you.

Your seven year old shuffles with his stuffed animal still in his arms. Your daughter's room isn’t far so it doesn’t take long before you’re standing outside her bedroom door.

Your son does a short courtesy knock before he opens up the door.

Like your eldests room, the curtains are drawn and the room is mostly dark. Your son immediately goes to his sister's side while you make your way over to the curtains.

Like your son, your daughter scrunches her face when the light pours in. You laugh quietly at how similar they look.

Your son whispers his sister's name and shakes her a little roughly.

“Be a little gentler, bud.” Peeta advises

The boy listens and shakes her again.

Your daughter lets out a little whine at being woken up.

“It’s time to get up, there’s breakfast downstairs.” Your son says softly, gazing at his little sister with expectation.

Your daughter tears up a bit at the idea of getting up.

“Good morning, honey.” You say, coming up beside your son, and kneeling down.

Peeta sits on the edge of the bed and gives your daughter a kiss on the forehead. You move some hair out of her face.

“Don’t wanna get up.” Your four year old cries.

“But how else are you gonna eat pancakes?” You ask, caressing her cheek affectionately. Internally, you coo at how precious she looks, even in her teary state. One glance at Peeta and you know he’s doing the same.

She looks at you in thought, obviously debating her options.

When she makes up her mind, she looks over at Peeta and raises her arms up, “Daddy!”

Peeta chuckles and effortlessly lifts her up into his arms.

“Let's go get your little brother up.” Peeta says softly to the two of them.

This time Peeta is the first out of the room with your daughter in his arms, then your son, and you right behind him.

When you were just outside of your youngests room, you see your daughter wiggle in Peeta’s arms, an obvious sign that she wanted down.

Your eldest, once again, gave a little knock on the bedroom door, and you even heard a happy giggle on the other side of the door.

“Come on, open it!” Your daughter urged her brother impatiently.

“I am!” He responded with a bit of frustration in his voice.

Peeta wrapped his arm around your waist and chuckled while you both watched them enter your youngests room.

Your one year old son was standing up in his crib with a happy smile on his face.

Your son and daughter ran over and said a chorus of good mornings.

You walked over and pulled your youngest out of his crib. Once you placed him on the ground he was given a couple hugs and kisses from his older siblings.

“Let’s go downstairs and eat bekfest!” Your daughter said, not quite pronouncing ‘breakfast’ correctly.

“Hold my hand.” Your eldest held out his free hand to his brother. But the younger just walked past him.

“Doesn’t seem like he wants to hold your hand right now, but you can hold mine!” You grinned teasingly, holding out your hand.

“I get to hold your hand all the time.” Your son dismissed already making his way towards his brother, ready to demand for him to hold his hand.

“I’ll hold your hand.” Peeta offered you, grinning as well.

“Who’s gonna hold my hand?” Your daughter cried, suddenly very distraught by the thought of no one holding her hand.

Peeta stooped down and picked her up with a little spin, causing her to giggle.

“I’ll hold you in one arm, and your mom’s hand in the other.” Peeta tickled her, drawing more giggles out of her.

“Sounds good to me.” You said walking over to the two blondes.

“Let us go down first mom and dad.” Your eldest told you, finally getting his brother to hold his hand.

“After you, bud.” Peeta encouraged, grabbing your hand and grinning at his daughter.

———————————

Breakfast was a blur of catering and attempted food fights. It only stopped when your seven year old declared he was going to get dressed and your daughter followed after him claiming that she wanted to get dressed too.

“I’d say that was a successful breakfast.” Peeta commented while eating a few pieces of fruit.

“I’m just glad they didn’t ask for cereal instead.” You laughed, taking the dirty dishes over to the sink. Since Peeta did most of the cooking you agreed to do most of the dishes.

“Mom!” Your daughter's voice cried

You were at the bottom of the stairs in a second, "What is it?” You questioned, scanning her for injuries.

“I can’t get this shirt on!” Her tiny lip wobbled from the top of the stairs, arms craned upward from where they were stuck in her shirt.

“Okay, I can help. Do you want my help?” Your shoulders relaxed at seeing her unharmed state.

Your daughter nodded.

“Everything okay?” Peeta asked, holding your youngest in his arms, the toddler nomming on a piece of fruit.

“Wardrobe malfunction.” You answered, climbing up the stairs.

Peeta nodded and went back into the kitchen.

“I don’t like this shirt.” Your daughter commented as you eased it off of her.

“You wanna pick out another one?” You asked, smoothing down the messy blonde hair on her head.

Your daughter nodded eagerly running towards bedroom, with renewed enthusiasm.

———————

You’d admit that you weren’t originally the most ecstatic at the idea of building a sandbox. The idea of having to clean all the sand off of them still gives you chills. However, it keeps them entertained and happy so you decide it’s worth it.

You and your husband laid on a picnic blanket, Peeta’s back against a tree and you in his arms.

It had been decided that since you were already planning on spending most of the day outside, you might as well eat lunch outside, hence the picnic supplies.

Now, the picnic basket that’s used more than you could’ve ever imagined is closed, all its contents drained except for your water bottles.

With fall your flowers and trees were going dormant for the winter, and you were already brainstorming flowers to plant in the spring.

“I’m thinking of Marigolds.” You comment after internal debate.

“Those are pretty.” Peeta says while stroking your hair.

“Do you think the kids will want to plant some?” You ask, looking up at him.

Peeta shrugs, “I think they will, but you can ask.”

You let your gaze shift to the horizon and notice the sun going down.

“Should we bring them inside for dinner?” You ask quietly, as if any louder would disturb the peace.

“No. Let’s watch the sunset first.” He kisses your cheek

——————————

To no one's surprise your children were quite hungry. They ate so quickly you were worried they were going to choke.

After they were done they were already exhausted, which made it quite the challenge to get them to take their baths.

Your daughter nearly fell asleep while you helped her change into her pajamas.

Then, before you could give her a single kiss she was out like a light, snuggling into her blankets.

Your sons waited patiently for their kisses. Though, you could see your youngest fighting sleep. Luckily, he wasn’t fighting for very long. After hugs and kisses from both of his parents he was out like his sister.

Your eldest was the last to be tucked in, enjoying his hugs and kisses while the three of you chatted a little bit about how the day went.

One thing is for sure, they will be well rested by tomorrow morning.

As soon as you quietly closed the door to your eldests room, Peeta pulled you into a hug.

He swayed the both of you lightly, making you want to fall asleep in his arms. You had done your own share of running around today.

He pulled back with a kiss on your cheek but didn't remove his arms.

"I love you." He said quietly

"I love you too." You replied with no hesitation.

"Thank you." Peeta said, confusing you a little bit.

"For what?"

"For giving me a better life than I could've dreamed of, for allowing me to wake up next to you everyday, for loving me."

You kissed his cheek, "I couldn't not love you. I can't imagine another person who could make me as happy as you do, or make me feel as loved as you do." 

Peeta's smile was so big and full of emotion that it made your heart soar, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. No matter how short or long, I want to spend it with you."

"Well that's good because I also want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Peeta chuckled, "It's cute you think I'd ever let you go." He teased

"Just shut up and kiss me."

"Anything for you, sweetheart."

———————

edited in 07/24/2024

[flowhence]

to the edge of our days - j.m.

summary: you, a girl from district thirteen, are with the infamous johanna mason. except you have an accent, and johanna loves to tease you for it

pairings: johanna mason x fem!reader

warnings: just fluff

author’s notes: i smiled while writing this

You don’t hate district 13, I mean, sure it’s not the best… but it’s all you know. You honestly never thought you’d be happy with someone after constantly being in war with the capitol. Coin is not a very likable leader but it’s at least somewhat better than Snow.

“Whatcha thinking of, princess?” Johanna smirks at you, knowing you hate that nickname.

“Sadly, ‘s bout the capital.” You say, in your usual southern drawl. Johanna grins, a certain gleem in her eyes that makes you sigh.

“Well that’s no fun, brainless! Come on, princess, we aren’t in the capital.” She says, gleefully waiting for you to speak again.

While You and Johanna don’t seem like the type to even like one another, it’s so painfully obvious you guys do. Even Annie can see it.

“Y’ain’t ever taken me seriously have ya?” You sigh, you don’t notice the flicker of emotion in Jo’s eyes. Not like you’d care anyway. Or maybe you did care, maybe that’s why you act so stupid around her.

You swiftly try walking away from her, ignoring the hurt in your chest. “Not my fault you’re so easy to rile up.” Johanna scoffed. You freeze in your steps, you can see the undertone of it, that you haven’t lived a bad life. Or maybe you’re projecting your own self doubts.

“Don’t do that.” You say, taking small steps towards Johanna. Your eyes narrowing at her.

“Do what?” She asks, with false confusion and innocence. You feel anger rising up into your chest, you can’t believe she’s trying to play innocent.

“You can’t be fuckin’ serious! You’re always pushin’ me away. it’s aggravatin’! I try, so goddamned hard, and—” You’re cut off by her lips on yours, you were so caught up in your rant you didn’t realize you’ve taken the bait she put out.

Johanna’s lips were soft, and oh so inviting. She tugs on your bottom lip with her teeth, you gasp allowing her to slip her tongue inside your warm mouth.

You grab ahold of her waist, pressing her body to yours in a tight embrace. Your breath mingling together with hers, you groan and her mouth muffles the sound.

After a few seconds Johanna pulls back, you chase after her lips—wanting so badly to taste her again. She chuckles not making the step to create distance between you two.

“Finally!“ You hear Haymitch yell, and you scowl at the man. You blush when Finnick, Katniss, and Peeta all both voice their agreements.

“You’re cute when you blush, brainless.” You snort at her comment. Your calloused hands still holding tightly to her waist.

“Shut up,” You grumbled but your adorable gaze doesn’t make it very threatening.

“God, I thought we’d choke on their sexual tension before they finally got together.” You flip off Katniss, and the brunette laughs.

“Well that’s not very nice, princess.” Katniss snarks at you.

“Hey! That’s my nickname.” Johanna growls out at the brunette, Katniss raises her hands up in surrender. You smile, shaking your head.

“Welp, does this mean I get to wine and dine ya?” You say, a certain sparkle in your eyes. Jo looks back at you, softness in her gaze and she presses her lips against yours once more.

[mrsnancywheeler]

the lakes (5) // finnick odair x f. reader

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

previous chapter / next chapter

midnight rain

2.3k words

warnings: angst, fluff, hurt/comfort, mentions of alcoholism bc haymitch is there, brief drinking, allusions to death and violence, rebellion planning, allusions of trafficking/sexual trauma, wanting children, mentions of birth control and class divide, terms of endearment, mental illness, manipulation of someone's feelings, self-hatred, mentions of nausea and allusions to puking, reader being utterly enamored by Finnick, unedited, no use of Y/N

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

Harsh wind made your body shake and Finnick immediately wrapped his arms around you. How he always felt like a furnace was something you'd accepted you'd never have the answer to and you gratefully relaxed into him.

“Oh look, I just happened to run into you two on the roof, a happy couple just relaxing while they still can." Haymitch's voice pierced the air billowing around you.

“What a coincidence.” Finnick took a step closer to where Haymitch was approaching.

"Gives us a perfect chance to talk about allies though.” Your voice was loud enough that if anyone was listening they would be sure to hear your completely pure intentions with a mentor right before everyone's voices conveniently took the octave and pitch down.

“After this there's not opting out, so I need to know that you're 100% on board. You could be killed if this gets found out." Haymitch fiddled with his flask.

“We're already going to be killed, at least this way there's a chance we can stay together and end all of this." He stood close enough now that your soft voice could only be heard within the earshot. Finnick squeezed your hand softly.

Haymitch nodded, “Beetee is in on it too, so is Wiress, but who knows how much of a help she'll be. Plutarch can give us insight into small things before the Games start, but the main point will be finding away for enough chaos to happen that we can get Katniss out of there.”

“So our job is to get her to trust us, protect her and Peeta so she sticks to the plan that will get her out." Subconsciously Finnick began tapping his fingers on your waist and you rubbed your thumb in circles across his hand to try and soothe whatever it was his mind was running on about.

“Yes and we might need to find a way to force that because you weren't doing a great job on that, darling. I can't blame you though, she can be quite difficult.” Haymitch took a swig from the flask, you could only imagine how burning cold the metal must have been. Then he was pointing at you, "The princess here might actually have more luck since in an ever so contradictory way she's less gaudy.” Finnick scoffed. "She'll just have to get over preconceived notions first which isn't usually easy. Going over tributes though the problem would be you as a package deal, so we might have to find a way to force her to ally with everyone anyways.”

Slowly, Finnick nodded, “We should tell Johanna, she'll definitely be determined even if she doesn't get Katniss’ trust right away."

Haymitch laughed slightly, “Oh I think she's already left quite the impression." You could only imagine what Johanna had done and you smiled, her blunt attitude had immediately drawn you to her and it helped that her strategy was slightly similar to yours as far as the tears went.

“You go, it'll look like you're trying to figure out alliances and not be as suspicious, if they are watching." You kissed Finnick's cheek and reluctantly pushed away from his comforting arms.

"Okay, I'll be back soon. Don't miss me too bad.” He began stepping away so slowly as if he wanted to stay too, which you couldn't imagine why you had to have made his internal heater freeze with every touch.

“Oh I already do." He smirked and you walked over the cement bench, patting on it as Haymitch sat down by you. He held his arm out, offering the flask he was holding. You thought about it for a second, but accepted the offer. Earlier assumptions were correct, the metal was so cold it burned the lips right before the alcohol did. “What is that?" You scrunched your nose, handing it back to him.

Haymitch chuckled, shaking his head. “One of their wild, Capitol creations." He shrugged slightly, the idea of carrying a drink around that you couldn't even name just to numb the pain made your head ache for the victor. “So you tied the knot away from all the pomp and pageantry?"

"They can't have all of me.” Even if they have most of me, went unsaid into the crisp night air. Your body, your tears, what you could give, the raw, violent parts of you forever memorialized for eternity. Now parts of the private ceremony would be exploited, but the moment could never, only the parts you chose to reveal. It was yours.

“Good for you." He took another drink. “They can only take so much from us, they have to know this was bound to happen." You hummed a yes and reached your hand out which he filled with the cold flask, you took another drink that stung your throat before returning it.

“I don't know how people can have kids when the world is like this." You muttered, looking out at the city below. So badly you wanted a family, Finnick would be a great father, but it seemed impossible to fathom when at any second, for years on end they could be ripped away to be publicly executed for entertainment. If they even managed to survive, horrors lay beyond that, you would never wish for your children to live in a world where they went through what you did.

He shook his head, “Desperation, extra hands, not everyone has fancy Capitol provided ways to prevent pregnancy, Princess."

"Yeah.” You were all too familiar with that. Rich men rarely wanted the possibility of a kid running around with a second-class being even if she was a victor and you took every precaution possible as the fear ate you up inside. They could steal away your body, your intimacy, how you felt with yourself, but if you did escape all of this the only kids you would be having would be yours and Finnick. You wouldn't let them own you in that aspect too. “She's lucky she and Peeta came off as such a strong case of star crossed lovers, it's saved her in and out of the arena. Saved both of them.” Blankly staring at the stars, too beautiful to shine on such a cruel world.

“That she is. My so-called defiance lost me everything, everyone and she managed to be so popular that they couldn't do that. It's why we stand a chance, princess.”

You stood up, "I'd wish you a goodnight, but that rarely happens.” You smiled, sadness tainting your eyes.

Haymitch shook the flask, "If it works right, I won't remember a thing.” He said it so sardonically it weighed down your very being. This is what the Capitol did to its child winners, fractured them into being blackout drunk to dodge the nights full of horror.

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

You sat on the hallway floor, it's carpet itching your skin as you sat there, head on Conway’s shoulder.

“The outfits were so ridiculous, dressing us like prize pigs." He seethed, “Not you I mean though, you didn't look like a pig, the blue looked nice on you-" Conway started rambling to make up for his initial words and you pressed a finger to his soft lips.

"I know what you mean.” You smiled, so softly it looked enamored with his stumbling. It was cute, but not like your Finnick's sureness in all he said. No, not your Finnick, not anymore he was just Finnick, the mentor, the guy from the past. Oh, how you craved his touch, the smell of his salty skin, the sound of his honey like voice. You scolded yourself, now wasn't the time, it couldn't be. You couldn't risk Conway being able to tell if you were thinking about the other man, as if he could somehow read your mind, nevertheless it was too risky.

“Thank you for always understanding me, you've always been so sweet since we were children, it's what made me want to be your friend in the first place and then-" He paused, then your lover is what he was holding back. You knew this, his sister had told you once back when you were with Finnick, how jealousy was eating Conway’s sweet soul alive. “Then made my family love you too."

It was like an arrow in your heart, you weren't sweet, it was more harrowing that he thought so. Your brain encouraged you to persist even though the echoes muttered back how much you should loathe yourself. “No, you're the sweet one. Always covering for me." You shook your head, keeping the smile glued on your face. His hand was suddenly on your chin, trying to guide you in. His fingers were slightly calloused but there were no sparks, like when Finnick even brushed his atoms into the same vicinity as yours. You leaned in slightly, eyes searching him as if you wanted to know if he really wanted this, of course you knew the answer though. His lips pressed themselves to yours, he tasted just as he sounded, like strawberries and you did like strawberries of course, but not as much as a raw honeycomb.

Just as quickly he pulled away, “I'm sorry." Conway’s voice spilled out, “I don't know what I was thinking, I know you still have him and all, I just I don't know." He shook his head, rubbing his face with his hands, combing them through his hair anxiously.

“He's a jerk." He was, but in the best and worst way. “I don't know what I saw in him." You shook your head, sadly staring at the carpet. Urging the tears to present themselves to help cover your lies because you knew exactly what you still saw in him, his humor, his protection, the warmth, and the absolute love and care he exuded with each look, each graze of his fingertips. “Especially when-" You acted like you were getting choked up on your confession, you disgusted yourself.

Conway’s fingertips were tilting your head back up to him once again, “Really?" His eyes were eager, so innocent. You had to stop your resilience from breaking, from halting the whole operation. “Do you really mean that because I have for so long and please be honest?"

You were nauseous. Trying not to start gagging on nothing as you nodded. "Of course I do, I just didn't see what's been right in front of me.” He kissed you again and it was overwhelming your senses. Not in the way Finnick did which made you buzz, in a way that made you want to run. When he finally pulled away you forced yourself to let out a sly smile as you began standing. "I'll see you in the morning, we should sleep before all the training tomorrow, making impressions with the other tributes.”

His smile was shy and his eyes were basically begging you to stay with him another night, to hold you. It would certainly help your plan, but you couldn't. It was already too much and you needed senses knocked back into you before you broke. "Goodnight, sleep well." Conway whispered, slowly letting his fingers part from yours as he turned down the hallway. You'd been just outside of your room so you walked to it and opened it right before closing it to make it sound like you'd gone in before making a beeline in the opposite direction for Finnick's. Vainly trying to hold back the dry heaving.

Ever so softly your fists knocked on the door and almost instantly it was open, like he was waiting, like he knew you would be coming. Before another second could pass you'd thrown yourself into the protection of his arms and were weeping.

“I'm a terrible person." You choked out as he carefully shut the door with his foot, wrapping his arms around you even tighter like a blanket.

“No you're not an angel, it's survival of the fittest." He kissed the top of your forehead burying himself in it.

"Oh God, I'm gonna be sick.” He instantly led you to the bathroom where you were in fact. He didn't leave you though, he pulled out some medicine to soothe your stomach and head. Handing you a glass of water as he soothingly had his hand on the top of your head, stroking your hair. Once you've finished he was brushing your teeth for you.

It should be pathetic to have someone doing that for you, but not when it was him just trying to keep you secure. “Gotta open wider, angel." He was diligent and precise before helping pull you up from the edge of the tub to the sink. “Okay now spit. Let's get you into bed, sweet girl."

“Thank you, I'm sorry." You muttered out, voice raspy.

“Don't ever be." His warm hands tilted your chin up in a way that melted you into his touch like sugar in tea. “Look at me. You're doing what it takes to survive, which you deserve to do, I'm just doing what you deserve." Your Finnick could make you fall into tears every time, healing the patches of the broken heart you had from the way you were using Conway. “Let's get you to bed." He began to walk out of the bathroom and you softly put your hand on the one trailing away.

"Finnick.” Your voice was tender but the air was so stagnant it felt booming to your ears. He turned to look at you, worry evident. "Can I stay? Please?” Finnick smiled so sympathetically it made your head feel better, like it would float away instead.

"Of course, my love, you can always stay with me, I'll always stay with you.” As you crawled into the sheets that he'd of course emanated his soothing heat onto you knew it was true. Just as you knew you'd always stay with him.

𓈒⠀𓂃⠀⠀˖⠀𓇬⠀˖⠀⠀𓂃⠀𓈒

thank you so much for reading! literally y'all's comments make my heart so happy and my passion for continuing to write this skyrockets, you are all so incredibly kind and supportive 💕 as always if you enjoyed feedback, likes, reblogs, comments are all so appreciated and my asks are open bc I think about this series all the time. I love you guys and thank you again sm 💋

taglist: @imaegonstargaryenswife0 @avoxrising @artsyaquarium @jennaaaaaaaaaaaa @secretsicanthideanymore @darlingsoulbeautfulthoughts @thatonegayloser616 @kybermp3 @meri-soni-meri-tamanna @ravensinthedaylight @innercreationflower @uhnanix @aesthetic0cherryblossom @yourdailymemedelivery

[allisluv]

other thg works`1

blurbs/thoughts:

my top 10 thg characters

dating modern!madge undersee headcanons

thg girls experiencing homophobia

thg girls with a clingy s/o

going to a haunted house with thg girls

haymitch taking you to a daddy daughter dance

haymitch braiding your hair

effie looking after sick!reader

father figure haymitch trying to stay sober

effie helping tribute reader with their first period

effie helping you with your makeup

effie and haymitch picking you up from school when you're sick

haymitch forgetting to pick you up after school

pet-names thg girls use for their s/o

haymitch looking after a younger victor

effie as a mother hcs

haymitch letting you bunk off school

reader giving victors crocheted animals

mom!effie during prom season

haymitch picking you up from school after you misbehave

mom!effie at your graduation ceremony

fields of gold by sting -- an everlark analysis

gale thirdwheeling on your dates with peeta

why i think gale is autistic

effie and haymitch on your birthday

effie waking up on her birthday to see that you've spoiled her

odesta, everlark and johanna at pride (1) (2)

thg characters in a celebrity!au

mom!effie during your first muscial theatre solo

thg characters reacting to merch of themselves

what i think happened to thg characters after the rebellion

odesta's son hcs!

thg characters reacting to plushies of themselves

mom!effie during your first breakup

joannie headcanons

gloss finding out his little sister has a boyfriend

mom!effie is sentimental

cashmere and gloss' favourite taylor albums

mom!effie overpacking for a trip to the beach

thg characters love languages

cashmere headcanons

covey headcanons

enobaria theory on why her teeth were sharpened

thg boys reactions to receiving flowers from their s/o

what thg characters bring to a candy salad and their trauma dumps

thg characters with kids

my thoughts on enobaria x cashmere

taylor swift albums and songs i asosciate with thg characters

what would the victors do in the sims

what i think the victors mbti and signs are

the victors in a soap opera

how thg characters drink their coffees

why are the careers forgotten about?

thg characters that i think listen to fleetwood mac

thg characters favourite foods

thg characters favourite subjects in school

which thg characters i think are swifties

what thg characters signature scents are

father figure haymitch headcanons

thg characters and their youtube channels

mom!effie when you show her your new outfits

music i think thg characters listen to

baths and showers with thg characters

thg characters arenas

thg characters reacting to fem!reader getting her nipped pierced

haymitch and effie taking you to pride

mom!effie when you want to come home from school

dad!haymitch helping you with your first period

effie taking you to the capitol mall for the first time

effie with a 12 year old victor

everlark and odesta camping on the beach

sorting thg characters into hogwars houses

mom!effie and dad!haymitch when their child is being bulled in school

the golden alliance's type in a s/o

cashmere religion headcanon

thg characters favourite petnames to be called

cecelia comforting you when your house is being sold

maude ivory and her pet cat

thg characters favourite rabbit holes

tattoos i think thg characters would get

thg characters sexuality headcanons

thg ships as disney couples

thg characters allergies

coming out to mom!effie

mom!effie and dad!haymitch looking after fainted!reader

thg characters favourite classic books

sejanus is a sub

mom!effie helping victor!reader with their nightmares

odesta headcanons

thg characters as inside out emotions

thg characters favourite gilmore girls character

haymitch comforting you when you're home sick and trying to study

how joannie spend the anniversary of finnick's death

maude ivory headcanons

the covey letting new people in

the covey on halloween

thg characters favourite artists

how thg characters text

[hunterofartemis151]

Hi! Welcome to my page!

I use this page for my fanfic writing. You can find me by this name on ao3 and Wattpad, and by CrofterKing on ff.net.

These are the fandoms I will write for:

Harry Potter (any gen)

Percy Jackson, Magnus Chase

Marvel (Primarily MCU)

Hunger Games

Heartstopper

Wednesday

Sanders Sides

Ted Lasso

Our Flag Means Death

Hazbin Hotel

Dead Poets Society

What will I write? Great question! Here's a list:

Anything LGBTQ

Reader insert

Depending on the prompt, smut

ALL THE FLUFF AND ANGST YOU CAN HANDLE

Disabled characters

Age appropriate relationships (same age to five or six years between depending on younger person's age)

Time travel! This means based on the above I may write a fic between to characters if the younger person time travels back to meet with the older person back in time.

Most common AUs. Just ask!

Imagines

Blurbs

What WON'T I write? Here's my list:

Child (under age of consent) with an adult in any romantic or sexual relationship. If they're old enough to be the younger person's parent I don't write it. See above for my comfortable age range, and the one exception (time travel) to the rule.

Certain kinks. I've read a lot of shit and I... will not write stuff. If your prompt is ignored and you've put in kink specifics don't re-submit it. I may add a list here later.

Hateful content towards any specific person or community.

IF THEY'RE RELATED IT AIN'T HAPPENING

Nothing sexual with age regression

What ships I'll definitely write for:

Wolfstar

Moonstarchaser

Jily

Jegulily

Jegulus

Solangelo

Percabeth

Pernico

FierroChase

Hearthblitz

Stony

Stucky

Stonucky

Brutasha

Spideypool (NOT TOM HOLLAND RYAN REYNOLDS)

Pepperony

Steggy

Cartinelli

Katniss and Peeta

Haymitch and Effie

Charlie and Nick

Tao and Elle

Darcy and Tara

Wenclair

Any sanders sides ships except Creativitwins

Tedependent (TedTrent)

Roy, Jamie and Keeley

Keeley and Rebecca

GentleBeard / BlackBonnet

Radioapple (With immense respect to Alastor's sexuality and romantic orientation)

Dusthusker/Angelhusk

Anderperry

Reader with a character/character(s)

Maybe more, just ask!

This list may change, and I'll alter it as I get requests!

I'll post it on here with links to the other sites I write on.

Unless I get a prompt that sticks in my brain, it'll be oneshots.

I in no way endorse the actions or thoughts of JK Rowling.

Also I'm in school so that will take precedence over writing.

Cheers!

[promptsinpanem]

you really got a hold on me

Summary: After the death of Leeg 2 in battle, instead of sending a replacement soldier to Squad 451, the Mockingjay is sent home. Hijacked!Peeta, Mockingjay-au.

Rated: M for sexual content.

Prompt: Grow Together

On the fourth morning of Squad 451’s mission, Soldier Leeg 2 hits a mislabeled pod. It doesn’t unleash a swarm of muttation gnats, which the rebels are prepared for, but shoots out a sunburst of metal darts. One finds her brain, and in the instant it pierces her skull, Katniss swears she hears a cannon fire. Instinctively, she looks to Finnick who is also staring with wide eyes.

The following evening, Boggs gets the call. “Everdeen, Odair, pack your things,” he says. “You’re heading out on the next train.”

“Train to where?” Katniss says. They’re already at the last station.

“Back to Thirteen,” Boggs says. 

“What about the mission? We’re not even close to the mansion yet!” Finnick demands.

“Squad 451 has been dissolved. Everyone else is being reassigned,” Boggs says. “The pod mishap with Soldier Leeg has Plutarch a little shaken. They want the Mockingjay home.”

Katniss shoulders her weapon defiantly. “I’m not leaving. They need me here.” It’s a lie, of course, she’s hardly been allowed to fire her weapon since she’s arrived. But she can’t leave now, not when she’s so close. “That was the deal,” she says. “I kill Snow. You call Coin back and remind her of that!”

“I’m not going to change her mind,” he says, sounding tired.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Let’s take a walk,” he says.

Katniss falls in step with Boggs and they weave around the encampment, outside the earshot of the others.

“You’re a wildcard,” he tells her. “You’re too unpredictable, and as this war comes to an end, you become a bigger and bigger threat to her.”

“I’m not vying for the presidency, if that’s what she’s worried about,” Katniss deadpans.

“True, but there will be a lot of people waiting for your endorsement. It’ll carry a lot of weight, especially if you’re a respected war hero.”

“How can I be a war hero, when they won’t even let me sniff the front lines?”

Boggs stops and gives Katniss a knowing look. “She doesn’t trust that you won’t sneak off into the night with my Holo, and storm the Capitol by yourself.”

Katniss presses her lips together tightly, and tries not to look too guilty at the accusation. 

“I’ll do whatever it takes to capture Snow alive,” Boggs says. “We’ll be sure to save him for you when you get back.”

It’s a long three days on the train back to District 12, and when they disembark the hovercraft in Thirteen, Katniss heads straight to Haymitch’s door. He seems to be expecting her, and hardly looks up from his reading when she storms into his compartment.

“The propos weren’t being well received,” he tells her. “The districts are united. Everyone’s seen enough of you blowing things up with a bow and arrow. The focus now is getting the people of the Capitol to lay down their weapons and surrender, and we all know who speaks the Capitol’s language better than anybody else.”

“Peeta,” she admits reluctantly. 

“Yes, and they don’t know you’ve had a rocky reunion. No one has seen you two together since the rescue.” He sits back in his chair and glances out the door to make sure no one else is around to hear. “There were two options discussed. Bring you and Finnick back to show the Capitol all the happy times to look forward to, or send Peeta to the Capitol in a Squad 451 uniform.”

Katniss pales, remembering what Boggs told her before she left. That she was a threat to Coin. “She wanted to send Peeta to kill me?”

“You know as well as I do that the boy wouldn’t be coming home either.”

She scowls. Of course he wouldn’t. Boggs would put a bullet between his eyes before he got off the train. If not him, probably Gale.

“Peeta’s already dead,” she says darkly. 

“Could be, but I’m not ready to give up on him yet.” He sighs when she’s unmoved. “He’s made a lot of progress. Sending him to the Capitol with all of those bad memories? He might never recover from that.”

“He’s gone, Haymitch,” she says, and she’s even angrier now because she feels she might cry. “You have to let him go.”

“You and me, we made a deal to try and save him. Remember?”

She sets her jaw and looks away. Outside Haymitch’s compartment, she notices a name has been added. Beneath H. Abernathy reads P. Mellark.

“He’s out of the hospital unit?” she says, surprised.

“Yes, he’s been reassigned to my bunk.”

“He’ll kill you in your sleep,” she says with a humorless laugh.

“And I’ll probably deserve it, since I left him behind.”

******

There’s a strategy meeting on her schedule for the day, and she heads down to the command center early, since that’s the only thing on her schedule for the day. When she arrives, she finds that Peeta, Plutarch, and Beetee are already there, speaking quietly over a map similar to what was projected with Bogg’s Holo. She steps back into the shadows, recognizing this isn’t a conversation she’s meant to hear.

“This is the tunnel,” Peeta says, pointing to a path that runs at the bottom of their field of view. “It connects the prison cells to the mansion, that’s how they’d take us whenever we needed to film something.”

“This might be our best entry point,” Beetee says. “Since Boggs and Hawthorne are already familiar with it from the recovery mission.”

“The entire place is booby trapped. Even worse than what’s in the streets,” Peeta says. “You can’t send soldiers in there.”

“Maybe if we can send in something armored to hit every possible touch point to guarantee we trigger any traps ahead of time,” Beetee says.

“No there are cameras,” Peeta says. “And if there’s anyone left in the control room watching, this will definitely be the place they’re looking.”

Beetee nods. “So the cameras will be our first target. What’s the fail safe for surveillance?”

“Biometric sensors,” Plutarch says. “A pulse needs to be detected to mobilize the weaponry.”

“So send in a robot,” Peeta says dumbly.

“It’s also needed to activate the doors,” Plutarch says. He pauses, realizing something. “Hawthorne’s squad caught a pack of mutts this morning. They have them trapped in a school building. We may be able to use them.”

“Snow’s going to surround the mansion with refugees and threaten to blow the place sky high,” Peeta says. “You need to get all the civilians evacuated and convince them to seek shelter elsewhere.”

“We already have something in mind for that,” Plutarch says. He pulls out his pocket watch to check the time. “I’ve got to go prep for our next meeting,” he says. “If you’ll excuse me.”

Katniss scrambles back toward the door to pretend she’s just arrived. “Plutarch,” she greets.

“Oh Katniss, it’s so wonderful to see you back safe,” he says. “It’s such a shame what happened to Soldier Leeg. We were so worried about you.”

“I only wish I could have stayed behind,” Katniss says, it’s a long shot, but there’s no harm in at least trying. “To avenge her.”

“And you wouldn’t be our Mockingjay if you didn’t feel that way,” he agrees. “But we have more use for you yet.”

Plutarch leaves along with Beetee, leaving Katniss alone with Peeta and the guard she now notices posted in the far corner.

“Sorry they’re not letting you storm the Capitol,” Peeta says from his seat, but it’s obvious he’s indifferent by his tone. “It must be really hard for you, not getting to play hero for once.”

“They brought me back, because they couldn’t send you!” She says harshly. She knows it’s not fair to blame him, but everything about him frustrates her.

“It’s not like they give me a choice.”

She folds her arms over her chest. “Wouldn’t have mattered. Peeta wouldn’t have cowered in a bunker, he would have been the first volunteer to lead the charge.“

“And it would have been stupid,” he says with a scoff. “A high profile target on the brink of insanity shouldn’t be on the front lines. Every resource left in the Capitol would have been aimed right at you. It puts everyone around you in danger.“ 

“They know what they signed up for.”

“That’s easy for you to say. They’re the ones who’d be skinned alive and tortured to death so your face stays pretty for the camera. Me? I don’t have the stomach for it anymore.”

She stops short. How many people did he watch die while he was being tortured? Suddenly she feels selfish and small, and hates him all over again for exposing what a terrible person she is. “I have to be the one to kill him,” is all she can say in response.

He looks like he pities her for a moment, but it quickly passes. “The only one who will kill Snow, is Snow himself, and he won’t be going out alone.” She doesn’t break his gaze. She never planned on coming home, he must realize that. He shakes his head, growing frustrated. “This sick game you two are playing. Don’t you see the path you’re on? Nobody wins”

“Aren’t you angry?” She spats back. “After everything he’s done to you?”

“Sure I am, but I try to funnel it into something productive. Me going to the Capitol is not productive.” He frowns, like he hates to admit it when he adds, “Sending you isn’t either.”

“Well neither is me sitting here.”

“The rebel army isn’t going to lay down their weapons because the Mockingjay isn’t on the battlefield,” he says flatly.

“You don’t get it.”

“Of course I don’t. You think you’ve suffered the most, so you’ve earned it,” he says. “But last time I checked, you still have your sister, and your mother, and Gale. Hell, I’m still here, even though you haven’t a clue what to do with me.”

“Don’t,” she says lowly. “You’re not him.”

Snow took him and sent a mutt in his place. She remembers him on the beach, telling her that no one needed him. The absolute dread that filled her at the thought of losing him. A part of her died in that arena when he was left behind, and she’s fractured more and more, every time she’s faced with this imposter. The only fire she still has burning within her is vengeance. Killing Snow is all she has left.

He studies her face carefully, like he’s working all her thoughts out on his own. As if he has any clue. He shakes his head, and sighs dismissively.  

Plutarch enters then. “Oh good, you’re still here,” he says. “We’re meeting next door.”

He leads them to another room where all the victors and Coin are already gathered. Katniss takes a seat beside Haymitch and Peeta sits on his other side.

“First we’d like to welcome back Soldiers Everdeen and Odair, and commend them for their bravery in the Battle Against the Capitol,” Plutarch says solemnly.

Katniss’s eyes meet Finnick’s across the table, and they both roll their eyes in unison. Based on the way Annie is wrapped around his arm though, the odds of Finnick stowing away with Katniss on the next hovercraft out are about as likely as Haymitch deciding to tag along.

“We have a problem,” Plutarch continues. “It seems we have to reevaluate the focus of our propos. People of the Capitol enjoyed the fighting when it was happening in the districts, but now that it’s moved to their backyard…”

"It never bothered them before,” Finnick argues. Back in the Games, the Capitol loved that sort of suspense.

“No one wants to worry that the Mockingjay herself will break down their door and fire an arrow into their chest,” Plutarch says. “We have their attention at least, and we plan to use it. If anyone can convince the people of the Capitol to join our cause, it’s the Victors. They feel like they know you. They trust you.”

“They couldn’t care less if we were dead!” Johanna says with a roll of her eyes. “Besides, the propos are pointless to them. They’d rather die than surrender to a life of drab gray and standard issue rations.”

“Not if we put drab gray in style,” Plutarch says. “So far all of our footage has been about joining the war effort. We need to change our focus to what Panem will be when the fighting is over.” He’s pacing around the room now, flashing his hands around each victor with a buzzword. “Strength!” He says beside Johanna. “Hope!” He says along Beetee. “Rebirth!” Between Finnick and Annie. Then, when he gets to the District 12 side of the table he concludes with, “Romance!”

Peeta goes stone faced. “No. We had a deal,” he says. “I give intel and I run training drills for the camera, but no more star crossed lovers. We’re through with that.”

Plutarch looks like he’s getting nervous, like he expects Peeta will launch across the table ravenously at the first sign of showing any emotion.

“You’re in a unique position here, Peeta,” he says. “The Capitol used you as their mouthpiece in the early days of the war, and they haven’t heard from you since the rescue. Snow has tried to discredit you, but that’s hard work, since it makes him look like a liar.”

Peeta rolls his eyes. "You want me to smile and pretend like I agree with everything you say? I’ve done that enough already and I’m done. I’m not some piece in this damn game!”

Katniss’s eyes snap toward him, and for a minute she forgets how to breathe. She waits for a sign, some kind of proof that he remembers that quiet talk before their first Games, but he never even looks at her. It was just a coincidence. A cruel coincidence. 

“They need to see that you’re okay here. That you’re not some prisoner too,” Plutarch says, which is almost comical, with the armed guard lurking over Peeta’s shoulder. “We’ve held off on the reunion long enough. We need to show them what happily ever after looks like.”

Peeta stands from his seat.

“Where are you going?” Plutarch demands.

“Home. Back to Twelve. Thanks for the rescue. I’ll be sure to pay my taxes, or however you work all of this out, but that’s where my civic duty ends from now on.”

“We can’t sustain any more mass casualty events, Mr. Mellark,” Coin finally says, her voice always so calm and calculated. “But I suppose there are other ways to persuade the citizens of the Capitol to lay down their arms. Another Hunger Games, perhaps, pooled from families who are unwilling to surrender.”

He sits back down, and glowers at Katniss, as if this were all her fault. It’s not like Katniss is crazy about the idea either. In fact, it only reminds her of what Boggs told her before she was sent back. Coin’s not just interested in convincing the Capitol to join their side. She’s interested in erasing Katniss as the brave warrior leading the charge, and recasting her as that naïve little girl, too dumb with love to cause any problems. When the dust clears, they’ll remember that the Mockingjay called the people of Panem to fight, and then abandoned them on the battlefield.

She’s seething by the end of the meeting, and hardly pays attention to Plutarch’s brainstorming ideas. While Peeta has been able to turn all of his frustrations on Katniss, she has no problem redirecting them to him in the same way.

As they stand to leave, she stops Peeta before he can pass.

“It must be really hard for you,” she says tauntingly, mirroring his earlier tone. “Having to smile pretty for a camera." 

"Play nice, kids,” Haymitch says in a warning tone.

Peeta shakes his head. “Aren’t you angry they keep using us like little play things?”

“I try to channel it into something productive,” she says coolly. “Besides, what do I care? I’ve kissed you hundreds of times, and it’s never meant a thing.”

******

While hunting with Gale in Thirteen, they’d occasionally drift outside their allotted quarter mile radius. The animals weren’t aware of their hunters’ restrictions, and Katniss and Gale would often find themselves following tracks that led them two to three miles away from the bunker.

It was on one of these trips that she’d stumbled upon a lake, similar to the one she used to visit with her father back in Twelve. It even had a cabin, although it had been blown to bits, leaving only the ruins of a foundation behind, but the dock that stretched fifty feet into the water was still in reasonably good condition. 

Katniss had been reminded of the lake when Johanna mentioned some of the therapeutic methods her doctors were discussing to help her overcome her fear of water. Katniss had even gone so far as requesting the lake be tested for radiation, and it had been deemed safe for swimming.

The lake seemed like the perfect setting for Plutarch’s new propos, and Finnick, who’d never gone more than a few weeks without access to water, was thrilled with the suggestion. 

Cressida and the rest of her crew had stayed back in the Capitol to collect war footage, so a new team is assembled with Fulvia as director, a slew of amateur photographers from Twelve handling the cameras, and Katniss’s prep team tirelessly tailoring an assortment of District 13 jumpsuits into something sleek and stylish catered to each Victor’s best assets.

A blanket is set out on the docks and filled with foods from each district. Now that the supply lines have matured, there’s a bounty of fresh meats, fruits, and vegetables. The feast practically screams: Not from a can! Which is probably the only thing people in the Capitol have had access to in the last few weeks. There’s even a bottle of white liquor tucked away discreetly, which was probably placed after hours of debate, to show that the new Panem will still imbibe. 

They’re all deemed too pale from living underground for months, and her prep team airbrushes them shades of bronze, before sculpting their hair into something windswept and fresh.

It’s autumn, but it feels like spring. The leaves on the trees are warm yellows, oranges, and reds, and the air is warm too. Katniss stretches out on the dock beside Johanna, and soaks in the heat from the low hanging sun.

Johanna presses the bottle of white liquor into Katniss’s hand and smiles wickedly. Katniss sits up enough to take a swig, and grimaces as the liquid burns down her throat. “That’s terrible,” she says, passing the bottle back.

“It gets better,” Johanna says and takes another drink.

Finnick is already stripping naked and jumping into the water. He crows when he breaks through the surface. “It’s a little chilly,” he shouts, but seems to be acclimated after a few laps.

“Where’s Lover Boy?” Johanna asks lazily.

Katniss had seen him arguing with Fulvia earlier, probably over the fact that her direction notes stated “Peeta should kiss Katniss” and not “Peeta should hit Katniss with an oar.” After that, he went for a walk with Annie to cool down, and the last time she saw them, they were skipping rocks off the water from the shore.

She takes the bottle from Johanna and takes another drink. “Probably trying to empty his stomach now, so he doesn’t vomit on camera when he has to touch me,” she says. She sits up and dangles her feet over the edge, letting her toes comb through the water.

“He’s just embarrassed,” Johanna says, sitting up to match Katniss’s position. She hesitates before her toes can touch the water though, and instead swings her feet through the air. “He knows he’s still attracted to you, and he doesn’t want to give you that sort of power over him again.”

“He’s not attracted to me,” Katniss argues. “He told me I wasn’t even pretty.”

“Believe me, he is. We have group therapy together. It’s all he talks about." 

Before she can process it, Peeta approaches, with his hands buried deep in his jumpsuit pockets. Two people with cameras follow closely behind, and position themselves at different corners of the dock to capture the right angle. Peeta presses his lips together and lets out an annoyed sigh, before sitting down on the dock beside her. “Fulvia says I should talk to you,” he says, sounding bored.

“Mission accomplished.”

“That’s what I’d say.” He leans back on his hands to stare out at the water. “What are you two up to?”

“We’re racing,” Johanna says.

“To the bottom of that bottle?” He shakes his head when Johanna offers it to him.

“Johanna’s winning,” Katniss says.

“Did Haymitch teach you that game?”

"No, he’d never share,” Johanna says.

Katniss isn’t drunk, but she’s feeling a bit light headed, and she gets up to pick through the picnic before she loses her wits, especially now, knowing what Johanna has just told her. When she turns back, Peeta is stripping down to his underclothes, and preparing to launch himself off the edge of the dock.

“Where are you going?” she says.

“For a swim,” he says dumbly.

“You don’t know how.”

He looks unconvinced. “I survived an arena full of water, of course I know how to swim.”

“The belt was a flotation device,” she says. “You would have sunk without it. The only thing you know about swimming, you learned from me. I gave you a lesson once.”

“In that case, I must not be very good at it,” he says wryly.

“I could teach you.”

He smirks. “I don’t trust you as far as I can throw you.”

Maybe it’s the influence from the white liquor, or maybe it’s something else, but suddenly she begins to strip down to her underclothes and steps up to him. Lifting an eyebrow in challenge, she says, “Let’s find out then.”

Peeta narrows his eyes skeptically, like he thinks he might be walking into a trap. Then he grips her by the waist, and tosses her off the dock. The water is freezing, nothing like the tropical waters in the arena, and it takes a moment to get her limbs to start moving. She breaks through the surface, teeth chattering, and lets the light current drift her back into the sunlight.

"If I can trust you not to kill me just now, you can trust me this far,” she says, splashing the water in front of her.

He jumps in after her, and bobbles uneasily to the surface. The lake isn’t too deep, and within a few strokes toward the shoreline, she can already feel the bottom.

She goes over a few basic things, like treading water and how to float. He picks up on them right away, and they practice some simple strokes. It’s all very clinical, and boring to watch, and Katniss knows they’ll want better footage than this.

“Is it okay if I splash water at you?” she says.

“What do you mean?”

She flicks a few drops at him with the tips of her fingers to demonstrate. “I wasn’t sure if… like Johanna…” she tries to say diplomatically.

“No, it’s fine.”

She splashes some water at his face, and he does the same. They splash back and forth a few times, and again, it’s all very superficial. 

“I think they’re getting impatient,” Peeta says, nodding towards Fulvia  who is making get on with it! gestures from the shore. “We should probably just get it over with.”

She hasn’t kissed him since the arena, and she’s certain there are snipers up in the trees, ready to neutralize him if he has a psychotic break and tries to drown her. She flinches when his fingers brush her neck, and he draws his hand away quickly, flexing his fingers behind his head, while he debates a safe place to touch her.

She’s always depended on Peeta to take the lead, but that won’t work now, so they just kind of circle one another, with their chins touching the water, neither willing to make the first move. His eyes keep flitting down toward the surface, and she realizes that her underclothes are pretty much translucent from the water. His smile is almost sheepish at being caught staring, but then his expression darkens, and she realizes how she must be looking at him. Cheeks flushed, lips parted, shallow breaths. She looks like she wants him to kiss her.

And then he does. And the floodgates open. 

She remembers the night of his rescue, as she approached his hospital room. She was so excited to see him she felt dizzy, trying to picture what they’d say. What they’d do. She was certain he would kiss her, and she wondered if it would feel like those kisses on the beach. The ones that left her wanting more. 

When he kisses her now, she feels it again. That stirring that leaves tingles to the tips of her fingers. That guides her arms around his neck to pull her body flush against his. That leads her legs to frame his hips when he urges them there, aided by the buoyancy of the water. And then she feels it. But it’s not her this time, it’s him. Firm between her legs.

They’ve slept beside one another dozens of times and she’s always been aware of the effect she’s had, but he also went to great lengths to hide it. And now, feeling him pressed where her body seems to be calling for him most, her hunger turns to starvation when his hips roll against hers.

She’s too overwhelmed, and she breaks the kiss, swimming away, and climbing back on the dock where Finnick, Annie, and Johanna are gathered. Finnick drops a towel around her shoulders, and she wraps it around her body. She knows she’s shivering from the cold, but she can’t ignore that buzz still humming through her.

Peeta wades back to the dock a moment later, but only pulls himself up enough to lean on his elbows. He rests his head on his arms while he catches his breath. 

“You getting out bud?” Finnick says with a teasing lilt.

“In a minute,” he says shyly. 

She feels his eyes on her for the rest of the afternoon. It cools down quickly after the sun sets, and they build a fire near the shoreline for warmth. Katniss sits beside Johanna, nibbling on the remnants of their picnic, when she feels Peeta sit beside her.

She can’t quite look at him after their kiss, but she doesn’t protest either, when he directs her to sit between his legs, and she leans back against his chest, soaking in the wonderful familiarity of being wrapped in his arms.

She offers him a bite from the apple she’s eating, but he waves it away, and catches her chin with his finger before she can look away.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he says, and she’s already nodding before she fully comprehends what he’s said, and then they’re kissing again, framed perfectly behind the flickering flames from the fire.

“You need some privacy?’ Johanna says, throwing a dinner roll at Peeta.

He catches it then rips off a bite with his teeth and throws it back at her. "Yeah, you mind?” he says. And for a second, it reminds her so much of Peeta, the real Peeta. The one who nudged Caesar Flickerman aside after their first Games when he tried to interrupt their kissing. When he returns to kissing her, she pretends it’s still him, letting herself melt completely against him, holding onto that feeling for as long as she can.

******

They’re called into the command center the next day to preview the propo, but as they watch, Beetee informs them that it’s already airing in the Capitol. As expected, the primary focus is on Katniss and Peeta, with some extended shots of Finnick swimming, and a few clips of Johanna and Katniss laughing over the bottle of white liquor. Annie’s barely in it at all, which isn’t surprising, since the news that Finnick Odair is off the market, is not popular among the Capitol Elite. 

Peeta walks out of the room before the propo finishes playing, leaving Katniss to face the images of them kissing alone. She sinks into her seat, hoping to become invisible, and is grateful when it’s over and the meeting is adjourned. 

She returns to the command center later in the evening, when she knows that Gale will be calling in to deliver his daily briefing. They linger on the line after the rest of the senior personnel have left.

“You all seem to be having a great time back there,” he says coolly.

She feels the color drain from her face. “You’ve seen the propo?” She’d told him about Plutarch’s plans to film one, but she hasn’t spoken to him since they shot the footage.

“Yeah, it’s been on an almost endless loop here,” he says. “Men, women, and children were weeping in the streets at the sight, begging to be rescued,” he adds flatly.

“Funny,” she says. “You know I’d rather be out there with you.”

His laugh is tired, like he’s done repeating this same conversation again and again. “Let’s not kid ourselves,” he says. “Sure, you want to be here, but you couldn’t care less if I were around.”

“That’s not true.”

“Right. As your hunting partner.” He sighs heavily and rests his forehead in his hand. “I’m sorry. It’s just hard seeing you kiss him like that again.”

She touches her lips without thinking, and then quickly lowers her hand. “It’s nothing,” she reminds him. “He still hates me.”

“Didn’t look like it.”

Her knees snap together tightly at the memory of Peeta moving against her, and she looks away from the screen.

“I’m doing whatever I can to end this,” she says. “That’s all I want. You know that.”

“I could think of a dozen ways to end this war tomorrow, but you wouldn’t like any of them.”

She can’t shake the image of the Nut. The mountainside crumbling as those trapped inside scramble through the chaos in search for a last gasp of air they’d never reach. She doesn’t want to think about the horrors Gale would be able to unleash against his true enemies. 

“Just stay safe out there,” she tells him, still unable to look at him.

“You too.”

It’s late, past lights out, and she runs into Peeta wandering the corridors on her way back to her room. Peeta used to do the same thing on the train, but it’s another connection she’s unwilling to acknowledge.

“You’re up late,” he says.

“I had a call,” she says, her eyes staying trained on his feet.

“Gale?”

She hates that she feels guilty at the implication, like it’s something she’s trying to hide from him because she’s doing something wrong, when she knows that she isn’t. “They just finished supper out there, it’s usually when they send back their status for the day.”

“You want me to talk to him?“ He says, and that edge has returned to his voice. The one he’s used around her ever since his return. "Let him know you’re still being faithful.”

“I don’t owe him anything, or anyone else either,” she says.

His laugh is humorless as he shakes his head. “Ah, yes, there she is. Classic Katniss Everdeen.”

She scowls at him, eager to change the subject. “What are you still doing up?”

“I had a dream,” he says. “It was unsettling.”

“A nightmare?” 

“Not quite.” He puts his hands in his pocket and tilts his head thoughtfully. “You were in it though.”

“Did I get to kill you?” She says in a tone that’s disturbingly hopeful for the thought.

“No,” he says, and the smile he flashes looks genuine. “But you were implementing some unconventional torture methods.”

“Like what?”

“You wouldn’t want to know.” He lifts his eyebrows smugly. “Gale might be interested though.”

“What are you talking about?”

He stares at her, hard, like it would take a novel to explain it to her, then lets out a loud breath. “I don’t like you,” he says bluntly.

“You don’t like me? Join the club.”

“I’m still trying to figure you out. Sort out a lot of things up here,” he adds, tapping a finger against his temple. He takes a few steps to close the distance between them. He’s looking at her like an animal hunting prey, and she knows she should be scared, that she should probably run. But instead, all she can feel is that stirring in her chest. The one she gets when he kisses her. It doesn’t help when he says, “I don’t mind kissing you though. In fact, I kind of like it.”

“I could tell,” she says, aiming for indignant, but she doesn’t sound at all convincing, the way her voice is trembling.

He smirks tilting his head to the side, so that their faces are impossibly close. “I didn’t hear you complaining either.”

“If it seemed like I liked it, it’s only because I miss him.”

He lets out a quick rush of air that sounds like the wind getting knocked out of him, but covers it with an incredulous laugh. “Gale?" 

She should leave it at that, and let him think it. Then she can walk away and be done with whatever this is. "No,” she admits instead. “Peeta.”

There’s no hesitation before his lips crash into hers. She welcomes them, her arms circling his neck so he can’t stop. He stumbles forward, propping his arm against the wall behind them to keep them upright. She could kiss him forever, she thinks, but then she’s reminded that this isn’t Peeta. It’s like Gale told her back in Two. Kissing Peeta now is like kissing a drunk person, it doesn’t count.

“I shouldn’t be…” she says, pulling away.

He sets his other hand on the wall so that she’s caged between his arms. “What? Using me because you’re lonely? I get lonely too, you know.”

They kiss again, until she can clear her head.

“Kissing you now is different…” she says. “Then before."  

“What do you mean?” He humors her, but it’s obvious he isn’t interested in talking, because he immediately steals another kiss.

“It’s like kissing is just the start of something else,” she says.

He grins wickedly. “Isn’t that the point?”

“There are plenty of other reasons to kiss a person.” She has kissed Peeta a thousand times before, and it never turned into this.

“Yeah? Want to show me?” He leans in for another kiss.

She turns her face away before he can. “I’m done here,” she says.

He sighs heavily, and pushes away from the wall when he recognizes he won’t be getting anywhere otherwise. “I used to be terrified every time I kissed you,“ he admits. "I can remember that now. I think that’s why it was so easy for the hijacking to take, since there was so much kissing.”

“Why were you scared?”

He shrugs. “I was afraid I’d fool myself into thinking you’d love me back. But now, I don’t really care what you think of me. That’s probably why it feels different.”

Katniss realizes that’s the biggest difference between Peeta and Gale. With Gale there are expectations of how well she’ll love him back, while Peeta couldn’t care less if she ever loves him at all. Even before.

“That doesn’t seem fair,” she says.

“Fair?” he says. “Isn’t it the same thing you used to do to me?”

“I’ve always cared.”

“Have you? Is that why you’ve been sitting vigil by my bedside since my return?”

“I was a little preoccupied by a crushed larynx, if you can remember,” she snaps back.

He glares at her.

“Nobody touched my memories,“ she says. "And even I can’t make sense of half of them. So, sorry for the way I’ve treated you. I’m still trying to figure things out, same as you.”

“Yeah, well I’m sorry for a lot of things too, but it doesn’t seem to do us much good.”

“It does if trying to strangle me is on your list,” she deadpans.

He laughs, but it isn’t that cold, dismissive one. It’s a quiet and amused snort that even he seems surprised by. “Goodnight, Katniss,” he says, and the moment has officially passed, because now he’s backing away.

She’s not done though. “You brushed against me before,” she says, before he can turn away completely. “In the lake. And I felt it.”

He stops, and lifts his brows curiously. “Yeah?”

“You’d never done that before either.”

Even with the distance between them, she can see the shift in his eyes as they narrow, his pupils dilating until they turn black. He lets out a slow, deliberate breath that seems to suck the air from her lungs. “Did you like it?”

She leaves without answering, but when she returns to her compartment, she sits on the shower floor with her legs spread, and touches herself where she felt him before. Her fingers circling until she captures that sweet release she’s been craving. And when her eyes flutter open after her pleasure has waned, she realizes she was picturing him.

******

Training now is different than it was for Squad 451. There’s still target practice, and enough running to make Katniss puke, but now the focus is also on medical training to aid in relief efforts. The plan is to send the Victors in after the final offensive line reaches the City Center, when the Capitol is already secured, as a part of the liberation. 

Katniss hates the role, but is happy that medical training means she gets to spend time with her sister.

Delly, Peeta, and Prim have been playing a game called “Real or Not Real,” which Annie introduced them to. It involves Peeta describing a memory, and then Delly or Prim tell him if it actually happened. When they play around Katniss, it’s mostly superficial. Peeta asks about former school teachers, or what kind of food was served at the harvest festival. Occasionally he’ll ask about events from the Games, but never anything involving Katniss.

Over reflection the other night, Prim admitted that when Katniss isn’t around, the questions are almost exclusively about her.

Ever since the incident in the hallway, Katniss has been avoiding him. It doesn’t help that, according to Haymitch, Peeta had another setback yesterday that required him to be sedated much of the day. Katniss doesn’t admit what happened between them, but by the way Haymitch talks, he already knows. Either because Peeta told him, or they caught it on the security cameras.

Whatever his setback was, it must have passed, because Peeta’s almost cheerful today. Cracking jokes with Delly and Prim, and no longer staring at Katniss like he’s going to devour her at any minute.

Katniss doesn’t mind the reprieve, and she sits idly off to the side, practicing her stitches, while the three play their game.

"Hey Katniss,” Peeta says, catching her attention. “Pearls come from coal. Real or not real?”

She lifts her eyes to meet his. He’s smiling at her, which means he must already know the answer, and she can’t help but smile back. "Only in the Capitol,” she says. 

He furrows his brows, like he’s still stringing pieces of the memory together. “Effie told us that, we used to joke about it.”

She nods. “You gave me a pearl once too. On the beach.”

“I did,” he says in a tone that’s a mix of a question and an answer at the same time.

“I still have it,” she admits.

This seems to have unlocked a new memory and he presses his lips together, his eyes scanning across his workspace like he’s reading words off a page. “I gave you a locket too, didn’t I?”

“It was your token,” she says encouragingly. “It had a picture of my mother and Prim… and Gale.”

He nods. “I guess I already knew then, about you two.” He looks unsettled for a moment, and Katniss wishes she could take back what she told him. He’s quiet, his expression almost settling into that broody look he’s always sporting now, but then he scrubs his hand over his face to clear it away. He flexes his fingers a few times in front of him and lets out a heavy breath, which reminds Katniss to breathe again too. “Your favorite color is green,” he finally says.

She’s surprised when he says it. Because it’s less about remembering something she’s told him, and more about why she had told him in the first place. It was the conversation they had on the train, after they’d argued over her keeping secrets. In that moment they had called a truce, and decided to become friends. He’s doing that again now, and all she has to do is get over her pride and accept his kindness, something that has always felt impossible for her to do.

“And yours is orange,” she says.

“Like Effie’s hair,” he agrees with a smile, like they’re keeping a secret. And just like that, she recognizes it. That Peeta really is still there.

******

She hears him in the hallway every night. 

Peeta’s always walked with a heavy gait, and his footsteps are unmistakable at night when he roams the halls in search of sleep. She usually ignores it, but things feel different now, and this time, when she hears him stomping by, she opens her door.

“Another unsettling dream?” She says.

“Unfortunately not tonight, no,” he says. “Well it was certainly unsettling…” he shakes his head, unwilling to humor her. “I probably won’t be sleeping tonight.”

“What do they give you?” She asks, leaning lazily against the doorway.

He scratches behind his ear sheepishly. “They’re trying to wean me off the heavy sedatives, because I was forgetting how to breathe on them. So now I just get sleeping pills.”

“Which make the nightmares worse,” she concludes.

He looks at her with uncertainty for a moment, then nods.

“You want to come lay down?” She says and gestures over her shoulder toward her bunk. “It used to help – for both of us.”

“I probably shouldn’t,” he says, but he doesn’t make a move to leave. “Is Johanna in there?” She nods, although Johanna’s dead weight at night, since she swipes Katniss’s sleeping pills on top of her own. The morphling she siphons while “observing” in the hospital wing probably doesn’t help either. “Maybe that’s okay then, since we wouldn’t be alone.”

He climbs into her bed, and she settles beside him. The bed is small for one, and they have to tangle their limbs to fit, like when they shared a sleeping bag in the first Games. She hardly sleeps, because she can’t stop watching him. He looks just like Peeta when he’s sleeping. The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest is the same, and his long tangle of lashes flutter against his cheek the same way when he drifts between sleep cycles. He even smells like him, she notices, as she tucks her chin against his chest.

She rolls onto her other side, so her back is to him, hoping that it will allow for her mind to rest. When sleep finally takes her, she dreams of their last night on the beach, when he’d lovingly tucked her in and she imagined that beautiful meadow from the song she’d always sing. 

When she wakes, she’s immediately aware of the weight of his arm draped across her waist, and the firmness of his chest against her back. She peers at him over her shoulder, where his nose is nuzzled between her shoulder blades. 

It’s always hard to tell what time it is in Thirteen without windows, but they at least set the lighting system to simulate the sunrise and sunset, which they claim optimizes a person’s circadian rhythm. The overhead lights are starting to glow faintly, which means the morning alarm will sound in the next hour. 

She doesn’t want to disturb Peeta, but she needs to stretch her limbs from the cramped position she slept in. Her hips tip back, ever so slightly, bumping into his in the process, and she feels him, hard against her thigh. That dull ache strikes her again, creeping from her chest to low in her belly. She tucks her cheek back against her pillow and tries to ignore it, hoping to catch a few more minutes of sleep while she still can. In her lucid haze, she feels curious, though, and she swivels her hips back more deliberately. 

This seems to wake him, and he takes in a sharp sort of breath that’s caught in his throat. His arm tightens around her, hand splaying flat across her stomach to press her pelvis into his. He swells against her back, with an almost imperceptible thrust, while his breathing grows heavy in her ear. 

She remembers the feel of her own fingers circling between her legs the other night. It’s all she can think about with his fingertips brushing so close to the elastic of her sleep pants. It’s embarrassing how much she wants him to touch her, and while he wears his arousal fairly obviously, she can feel her own starting to dampen her underclothes. 

His hand dips lower, touching the bare skin from where her shirt rides up. She angles her hips toward him, and her legs fall open in invitation. He’s still moving against her, picking up his pace when she hooks her thigh over his. His fingers stretch, palm bracing her against him, as he ghosts over the fabric of her pants. So close. 

Her breath hitches in anticipation, and her hand covers his to urge it lower, but then his fingers start to flex, slipping from her hand, and he pulls himself out of bed abruptly. 

“I should go. The wake up call will be soon,” he reasons, as he hurries toward the door. 

She feels like she’s had the wind knocked out of her, and she slumps back on the mattress, haunted by the heat he’s left behind. She closes her eyes tightly and tries to calm the current humming through her body, but she’s still wound tight when the morning bells start to ring 30 minutes later. 

The next night, she sits in bed watching the door and waiting for the sound of his footsteps. She practically pounces when she hears him approach.

“Can’t sleep?” She says casually, bouncing lightly on her heels to hide how eager she is to see him. 

“Haymitch is snoring,” he says, and the light in his eyes, and the way his body seems to follow her every movement, like he’s caught in her magnetic field, makes her think he was just as eager. 

“Is that what it is?”

He drops his voice an octave, tipping his face toward her slightly to maintain discretion. “He’s been fermenting grape juice in the closet. The first bottle was rancid, but he said the next bottle was good. He finished them both.”

She steps aside so he can enter, and follows him into bed. There’s no pretense after that. She listens for him, opens the door, and then they sleep. Just sleep. 

People must know. There are cameras in all of the corridors, and Peeta sneaking into her room should draw concern, given that he’s tried to kill her. She wonders if maybe that’s why Coin allows it. 

During the day, they don’t talk about it. They play Real or Not Real, skating around mostly safe topics, and she even shows him the plant book they’d been working on, pointing out all of the sketches he did. That night he brings her a pile of scrap paper with all the various plants he remembers from the last arena, and the next day they find spaces for them, getting help from her mother, Finnick, and Annie for the ones they’re unable to identify.

She goes nearly a week without a nightmare, but one night she dreams she’s in the Capitol with Squad 451. Boggs steps on a landmine that blows him in half. Mutts whisper her name as they chase her through the streets. One catches Finnick and he’s ripped to shreds. Prim stands at the gates of the President’s mansion and catches a silver parachute, just as it explodes.

She’s trapped and can’t wake up. She feels like she’s underwater, paddling desperately toward the surface that only seems to drift further and further away.

“Katniss,” she hears her name whispered just like the mutts in her dream. She can’t escape it. “Katniss,” she hears again.

And then she feels his lips on hers. Firm and familiar.

“Katniss, it’s not real,” he says, and then he kisses her again. “Not real, Katniss. It’s not real.”

“Peeta?” She says, finally coming back to herself. She’s crying now because he’s here. Peeta. He came back to her. 

“Sorry,” he says, referring to the kiss. “You wouldn’t wake up.”

They’re both sitting up now. Her at the head of the bed and him in the middle. She’s still struggling to catch her breath from outrunning her nightmares, and she wants to keep them behind her, a thousand miles away if she can get there. She rolls forward on her knees to close the distance between them and kisses him again. It’s one of those kisses. One that awakens everything inside of her. One that will linger in her thoughts for months — maybe longer.

Whatever hesitation there was last time vanishes in an instance, and he pulls her into his lap, spreading her legs so they frame his hips. She’s the first to grind against him, and he pins her there with a hand on each thigh. She rolls her hips achingly slow along his length, separated by layers of sleep clothing, and she feels him harden beneath her. It makes her feel powerful, so she does it again, repeating the movement until he’s bucking up to match the motion. He urges her to lay back against her pillow, and his body blankets hers. He kisses her again, his tongue sweeping into her mouth with every thrust of his hips, like he’s making a map of her, in search of every place that makes her tick. 

He shifts his weight onto one arm, and his other hand sweeps down her body and under her shirt. He finds her breast, nipple pebbled within his palm, and when he pinches it between his fingers she hisses. He grins at the way she seems to unravel, and continues to massage her breast experimentally, to draw out new sounds until he’s satisfied. 

Johanna stirs in the bed beside them, and they freeze. Their eyes meet cautiously, waiting to be caught, but then Johanna just rolls over with a heavy sigh, and gives back into sleep. It doesn’t matter though, the spell has been broken.

“I should go,” Peeta says, sitting back on his knees.

Every nerve in her body seems to be thrumming. “Stay,” she insists.

His lips are swollen from their kisses and his sleep pants are still tented in his lap. He breathes deeply while he considers her request, but it’s obvious he can’t think clearly when all his blood has settled elsewhere. Eventually he nods, swiping his slick chin with the back of his hand and moving to adjust himself to effectively erase the impact of their activity, then he stretches back beside her.

She rolls onto her side to face away from him and stares at the wall. She knows she won’t be sleeping tonight, she’s too wired from her nightmares and now from the kissing too. 

She tips her hips back, hoping to find him again, but he’s facing the opposite way, pretending to be asleep. She can’t stand it anymore, this tension she feels around him that leaves her starved for release. If he won’t help her, she decides she’ll take care of it herself. She closes her eyes and tries to remember the feel of him hard between her legs, her toes curl in anticipation, as her hand dips beneath the elastic of her pants and underclothes. She gasps when her fingers sweep through her damp heat and circles her sensitive bundle of nerves.

Peeta rolls back over at the sound. “Katniss?” He murmurs, sounding exasperated when he realizes what she’s doing. His hand follows her arm to between her legs, where his fingers find hers. “Let me do it,” he grumbles in her ear. 

His breath hitches in the back of his throat when he touches her arousal, and he moves his fingers experimentally through her folds. “Have we done this before?” He whispers and she only shakes her head. His breath shudders again, sending a shiver down her spine, especially when she feels him tug her hips back to bump against his groin. “I couldn’t remember,” he says, and he must be talking about the other morning, when he was so quick to leave. “I thought I was having an episode.”

“No, this is real,” she says, her head lolling back against his chest, as he teases her center. “Keep going, I want you to.” She’s so wet that his fingers just slip around aimlessly, but when they finally find her clit, she lets out a strangled sounding cry before she can stop herself. He closes his other hand over her mouth to silence her, and then repeats the motion again with more confidence.

His hips are moving against her from behind, while his fingers circle around her clit with fervor. The sensation is overwhelming and she tries to anchor herself to anything she can wrap her hands around. The rigid muscles of his forearm as it flexes between her legs. His hand over her mouth. She reaches backward to touch his face, buried in the crook of her neck. His cheek is smooth, save for a short patch of stubble he must have missed while shaving. Her fingers tangle through his hair then settle around the nape of his neck to hold him steady. 

He lavishes the sensitive flesh along her throat. His teeth grazing lightly before his tongue swirls around her pulse point, sucking it between his lips. There will probably be a mark in the morning, but right now it feels too good for her to care. 

The pressure on her clit stills when he moves to dip a finger inside her. Her walls stretch then tighten around the intrusion. “More?” He murmurs, then grins against her neck at her eager nod. He adds a second finger, pumping them effortlessly through her arousal while using the heel of his hand to catch her cleft. 

It all feels so good, so impossibly good, she bites into his hand to keep from making a sound. He seems to like it, so she bites harder, until she breaks the skin. They’re practically feral as they move together in a frenzy of thrusts and strokes. She’s so close to cresting something when something strikes Peeta.

“Get off of her!” Johanna is shouting, standing over them with her History of Military textbook, which is the closest thing to a weapon within reach.

Katniss realizes how it must look, Peeta’s hand around her neck, while she shudders with desperate gasps. He rolls away quickly, and leaves their compartment without a word.

“We were just sleeping,” Katniss says defensively. 

"Who cares if you were fucking?” Johanna says. “You can’t be alone with him like that, he could kill you.”

At lunch the next day, Katniss can hardly look at anyone at the table. Her hair is down, and she smooths it over her neck constantly to hide the marks Peeta left across it. Peeta sits across from her, and she feels him watching her while he flexes his bandaged hand on the table.

“What happened to you?” Delly asks Peeta.

“I had an episode last night,” he lies, or maybe he isn’t. Maybe they both had a momentary lapse in sanity. “Bit my hand too hard trying to break out of it.”

“Good thing no one got hurt,” Johanna says pointedly. She turns her glare to Katniss. “So Katniss, hear from Gale recently?”

Katniss hunches further over her stew. “Yeah,” she mumbles. “They’re keeping count of all the pods they shoot down. Gale’s ahead of everyone else by nearly 100.”

“Must be killing you to not be there with him,” Johanna says coolly.

Katniss looks at Peeta and then looks away. They’re silent through the rest of the meal.

As they exit the cafeteria, Peeta pulls her aside to say, “Johanna’s right. We probably shouldn’t be doing this.”

*****

The rebels will be taking the Capitol any day now, and it’s decided that a Liberation Tour will take place. The surviving victors will stop at each district, en route to the Capitol, to distribute rations and gifts in celebration. Peeta volunteers to decorate sweets, and takes over the kitchen in Thirteen to do so.

Ever since he decorated the elaborate cake for Finnick and Annie’s wedding, people are fascinated to watch him work, and he’s in no short supply of assistants, starting an assembly line that at one point, Greasy Sae even joins.

Katniss is almost disappointed that his decorating has become so popular, because it means she never gets to see him. He’s always too busy demonstrating tasks and supervising others. And she misses him, now that he doesn’t sleep in her compartment anymore. 

On the last evening of prep, when he’s putting together the final touches, she finally catches him alone, and helps him clean up and pack the tiny boxes of chocolates.

“Where do you think you’ll go after all of this is over?” Peeta asks.

It’s a weird thought to have. When this is over. She never pictured making it to this point. “I don’t know,” she says. “Back to Twelve, I guess. There are too many rules here.”

He frowns. “Have you been back? Since…”

“A couple of times. Your house is still there in Victor’s Village. We went inside to borrow one of your suits for Finnick and Annie’s wedding. There’s a group of people who’ve already moved back. They’ve been sifting through the rubble before the ground freezes.” She takes a deep breath, dreading her next words, “Giving people a proper burial.”

His expression is impossible to read, and she doesn’t push it. She changes the subject instead. “What about you?” She asks brightly. “Where will you go?”

“I don’t know. Wherever they’ll let me,” he says. “I’m not sure the doctors in Thirteen are through with me yet, and there are some Capitol doctors from the hijacking program that are willing to help fix me, under the terms of their surrender.”

“You’d stay in the Capitol?” She asks, and the thought makes her sad, because even though there are so many bad memories there, Peeta always seemed to flourish in the Capitol. He could be happy there, now that they aren’t trying to kill him.

“You think Gale will go back?”

“To Twelve?” she says. She tries to picture the Gale from Thirteen, going back to making rabbit snares in the woods. “Probably not. I don’t see him being happy there. He’s too good at the whole ‘war thing.’”

“So are you,” Peeta argues. “You’re the Mockingjay, after all.”

“My abilities as a soldier start and end with my ability to shoot straight. You can ask Boggs, he’ll be happy to tell you all about it.”

“You’ve been begging to get back into the action for weeks now,” he reminds her.

Ske keeps her head bowed while she focuses on her work. “Because I wanted to be the one to kill Snow. For a while, that felt like the only thing I had left. If I cared about anything else, it might get taken away again.” She blinks rappidly to stop the tears threatening at the corners of her eyes, covering it with a half hearted laugh.

“But you don’t feel that way anymore?”

She meets his eye for a moment, then looks away. “I don’t know.”

“Is that why it’s been so hard? To choose?”

She rolls her eyes and pushes the box away once it’s full. It always comes back to this. She sets another empty box on the counter and begins to fill it. It's the last box left.

“What? Between you and Gale? Not you too,” she says flatly. “Why would you care? You don’t even like me.”

He ducks his head sheepishly at the remark. “Yeah, but I’ve got a lot of money riding on this.”

“Ah, the frivolous riches of a Victor. Sorry to say, but I’m not choosing anyone.”

The way he looks at her leaves her paralyzed beneath his gaze. “Good,” he says. “That’s what I was betting on.”

“In that case…” she says, trying to relieve the tension. It takes a moment for her knees to stop trembling, and she leans her entire weight on her elbows instead. “You should come back to Twelve. When this is over. You know, for Haymitch. We’re the only family he’s got left." She pauses, the words sitting like ash on her tongue. "We’re the only family you’ve got left.”

His smile is sad, as he returns his attention to his work, and she senses it’s time for her to go. “I’ll be okay,” he says. 

She turns to leave, but he stops her before she can reach the door when he says, “Hey, Katniss. You loved me -- before. Real or not real?”

It feels like all the air has been sucked from her lungs, and she stands there motionless. She turns, only enough to meet his eye from over her shoulder. “Real,” she finally allows herself to admit.

He nods thoughtfully a few times then returns to his work, and Katniss rushes out of the room before she does something stupid like tell him that she still does.

******

They leave the next morning. The remaining victors: Katniss, Peeta, Finnick, Annie, Johanna, Haymitch, and Beetee. They’re the only victors left. They take a hovercraft to Twelve, where a train is waiting. Not the cargo train that transported soldiers to the battlefields. This is the same train that took them as tributes to the Games. 

While in Twelve, they deliver aid and assist in the recovery effort. Katniss holds Peeta’s hand after he digs through the rubble, and locates a piece of the old bakery sign. He doesn’t say anything for the rest of the day, and he excuses himself as soon as they board the train, skipping dinner to retire to his private car. 

Katniss considers going to him, but Haymitch shakes his head. “It’s a lot for him to process at once,” he says. “I’ll keep an eye on him tonight.”

The train zigzags through the districts, and each night, Katniss has to remind herself that this is a good trip. That all of this will be over soon. During the day, she revels in the smiling faces who welcome them, knowing they’ll all sleep safely tonight with full bellies, and no worries of the Capitol’s wrath reaching them again. She finds herself sharing a train car with Johanna most nights, and they whisper over their fantasies of Snow meeting his final demise. 

When they visit District 4, they stop at the ocean. Even Johanna steps into the water, ankle deep, to absorb the salty air, and the blissful calm that comes with it. 

Finnick pulls them both aside on the beach. “We’re not leaving,” he tells them. “Annie and I, we’re staying. She’s pregnant, and the stress of going back there? She just doesn’t need that right now.”

Katniss hugs him tightly, and when Johanna hugs him too, she hears him tell her, “Give him hell for me.”

That night, Johanna is the one to lock herself away, so Katniss sits with Peeta and they linger in the dining car long after the meal has ended. 

Haymitch enters. “The rest of the tour has been postponed,” he tells them. “We’re heading straight to the Capitol?”

“Why?” Peeta says. “What happened?”

“Snow’s dead,” he says, and lets the statement linger into silence for a long moment, while the news sinks in. Katniss knows that both Peeta and Haymitch are waiting for her to respond. To laugh, to cry, to blink even, but she can’t seem to do anything at all. 

Peeta picks up the conversation for her. “How?” 

“A suicidal banquet was held after the rebels breached the mansion tonight,” Haymitch says. “They’re pulling his body in the morning.”

“Why wait?” Katniss says, finally finding her voice again. 

“They set the room on fire after, there might not be much left.”

“Were any of our soldiers hurt?” Peeta asks. 

“No,” Haymitch says, giving Peeta a reassuring grin. “We had some good intel.”

“So it’s over then?” Katniss says slowly. 

“They’re currently checking the line of succession as we speak. We’ll have to identify everyone who was in that room, then cross names off the list until we find the first one left alive. Hopefully, whoever that is, they’ve already been captured. But I know I’ll be sleeping better tonight.”

Katniss returns to her private car and orders a bouquet of white roses. She spends the rest of the night plucking each petal one by one until there’s nothing by bare stems left in the vase. She still doesn’t know how she feels. She’s not even numb, she’s just lost. They won, she should feel like they’ve won, but she doesn’t. It’s not even the fact that she wasn’t the one to deliver the killing blow. It was never a game. None of it. Nobody was ever going to win. It was no way to live.

When there’s a knock on her door, she doesn’t even have to guess who it is on the other side. “You okay?” Peeta asks. 

She shrugs. “Are you?”

“Will any of us ever be?” He replies. “Can I? Could I?” He asks shyly, nodding into her compartment. “Would that be all right?”

She steps aside wordlessly to welcome him into her bed. She couldn’t imagine spending this night beside anyone else, and they spend it like they have every night before, wrapped around one another to fend off the unknown horrors that could lie ahead. 

In the morning, they arrive in the Capitol, where Boggs is waiting to escort them.

“You decided to sweep in at the last minute to take all the credit?” He teases. Relief swells in her chest, and she doesn’t care if it’s against protocol, she hurls herself into his arms to hug him tightly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my word, about Snow,” he says into her hair. “We couldn’t get to him in time.” 

She’s still conflicted by the news, but she’s too elated to see that Boggs is safe. “Who cares, the bastard’s still dead, right?” He looks at her warily. “And let Coin know, I have no interest in being a king maker. So long as you and Haymitch support her, I won’t stand in the way.” She leans forward to lower her voice. “I’m not telling her who I’m voting for, though.”

Boggs ruffles her hair affectionately. “Get out of here and go be a kid for once.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” she says with a mock salute as she backs away. 

Gale’s arms circle her a moment later and he swings her through the air. “About time you showed up. How was the vacation?”

“Vacation? More like giving you the opportunity to finally pull your weight around here.”

A hovercraft flies low overhead, showering silver parachutes below. One floats into her hands and she recognizes the intricate decorations on the packaging. It’s the sweets Peeta made in Thirteen, mixed in with the ration packs that are being supplied. She hands it off to an empty handed Capitol child, and searches the crowd for Peeta, but he’s already slipped away. 

******

It’s the first day of spring, her favorite day of the year.

Katniss wakes up at dawn and pulls on her father’s old hunting jacket. The morning air is still brisk with the bite of winter, but she doesn’t mind. She pulls out her thermos and warms her chest with a sip of pine tea. 

The fence is never charged anymore, but it still stands as a fortress around the district. Thom installed a few gates though, including one at Katniss’s request, right outside of Victor’s Village, and she slips out into the woods with ease. 

She checks her snares, then picks off a goose with an arrow. There’s a patch of mint that’s turned purple in the winter months, and she fills her spare satchel with it, picking off a few leaves to add to her thermos before she heads home.

As she cuts through the meadow, she pauses at the gaping hole in the earth that they hastily cleared out before the ground could freeze. They’ve filled it back in, best as they could throughout the winter, but the ground is lumpy and uneven. She notices the perimeter is dotted with a few dandelions, and she plucks them from the ground to lay upon the mass grave.

When she returns to Victor’s Village, she drops off her game bag, where Sae is eager to unload the day’s offerings, quickly putting her granddaughter to work prepping a stew to serve the volunteers later in the day. Katniss isn’t sure how this arrangement worked out exactly, Sae and her granddaughter moving into the spare bedroom in her house, but since there’s always a meal waiting for her whenever she comes home, she doesn’t mind it. 

The only part of District 12 that was left unscathed by the firebombs was Victor’s Village, and since the houses are huge, there are two to three families bunking in each one for now. That’s why it isn’t surprising to see smoke billowing from Peeta’s chimney across the way. Delly’s been living there along with all the other orphaned merchants who decided to return. 

Peeta’s house has a special oven that the Capitol installed when he moved in. It’s made of stone, the same type they had at the bakery, and can heat things at over 1000 degrees, twice as hot as standard kitchen ovens. Delly has been too nervous to get it started, and all of Katniss’s offers to figure out how to light it have been politely rebuffed (as if Katniss has a history of blowing things up), so every attempt at baking bread has been pale and lumpy. Judging by the thick smoke coming out of the chimney though, it looks like that may have changed today.

"Are we finally going to get the good bread today?” Katniss calls out as she crosses the courtyard toward his old house.

She’s stunned, stopping short at the base of the porch steps when it’s Peeta who opens the door. She hasn’t seen him since the liberation of the Capitol a few months ago. There were a few events they had to make appearances for, like the signing of the Treaty of Surrender, but then she went back to Thirteen, and eventually Twelve, while he stayed behind for treatment. 

“It’s been a while,“ he says. "We’ll have to see if I still have it in me.”

She’s rendered speechless, and can only blink dumbly in response. He looks good. His hair looks freshly cut, his skin looks clean, and he’s even put some weight back on, which was near impossible on Thirteen’s rations. He looks more at ease than she’s ever seen him, even before the first Games. His smile is bright, and he’s lost any trace of that clouded look he had before.

“You’re back,” she finally manages to say.

His smile widens. “Guess I am.”

“Since when?”

“The Capitol released me last week and my train didn’t get in until this morning,” he says.

“Delly didn’t mention it.”

“I kind of asked her not to. I hadn’t decided if I was coming back for sure, until I got off at the train station.”

“Does Haymitch know?” She says

“He’s the one who picked me up, actually.”

“Typical,” she says, folding her arms across her chest. “That man, always keeping secrets.”

“It was probably my fault,” Peeta admits.

“Don’t worry, I get it.” She shifts her weight between her feet. She can’t think of anything to say. All she knows is that she doesn’t want to leave. “How are you?”

“Better.”

“You look it.”

“Thanks, I think,“ he says with a laugh.

“No, I mean it. You’ve lost that,” she waves her hand in front of her face, “look.” She grimaces and shakes her head, she always says the wrong thing, but he doesn’t seem bothered. “It’s good to see you smiling again.”

He takes mercy on her by changing the subject. "Are your mother and sister back too?”

“No, they stayed in Thirteen to finish her doctor training. She has a few more years left in the program.”

“You didn’t stay with them?” He says, looking surprised. 

“Well, now that I’ve lost my Mockingjay privileges, I’d probably only last a week before they kicked me out for disobeying orders.”

“You think they’ll come back when she’s finished?”

“I hope so. Otherwise, I’m the most experienced healer in all of District Twelve.”

“We’re doomed.”

She laughs. “Hey, I treated you once, and you didn’t die, remember?”

“A ringing endorsement, if I’ve ever heard one,” he says wryly. “We’ll just have to strategically hide the fake leg.” Their laughter fades in the warming spring air, and they linger in silence.

She doesn’t want to go, but there isn’t a reason to stay either. She rolls her lips together, and gives him a formal nod. “Well I’ll let you get back to it,“ she says.

“Hey, you want to go out sometime?” He says abruptly, before she can step away.

“Like on a date?”

“If that’s what you want to call it,” he shrugs. He leans against the porch railing, tracing his finger along the worn wood while she mulls over the question.

“Seems kind of formal. Aren’t we technically married?”

His nose scrunches and he scratches behind his ear, letting out a nervous laugh. “I don’t know. Are we? That’s been a point of contention with my therapy. No one knows the answer for sure.”

“Not real,” she says.

"Good,” he says, nodding a few times before the corner of his mouth twitches into a small smile. “That’s probably something I’d want to remember.”

She’s caught off guard by the statement, when she shouldn’t be. He wanted it to be real, she’s always known that. What surprises her, is even considering marrying him some day, and thinking she wouldn’t mind it.

It’s too much to think about, so she quickly changes the subject. “Why would you want to go out with me anyway? You don’t even like me,” she reminds him.

He flashes a contrite smile, like he realizes he’ll never live that comment down. “Yeah,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck, and he tilts his head to the side to avoid the late morning sun. “But I think I could be persuaded.”

“Wow, that must have been some therapy,” she says dryly. 

“I don’t know, the objective was to make me sane…”

The statement hangs into silence, and he frowns, probably thinking she’s been deflecting his original question, and maybe she has. 

“You can say no, too,“ he says quickly, as if he senses the growing tension. "That’s kind of the point of asking. If you’re not interested I’ll buzz off. I don’t want you to think I only came back because I assumed I’d win by default.” He grimaces. “Because it’s not winning. You’re not some prize…”

"You doing anything right now?” She says, interrupting him.

“Aside from surgically extracting my foot from my mouth, not much.”

She grins. “I hope you don’t need a healer for that.”

He laughs, his smile bright and again at ease. 

"You want me to show you around?” She says.

His eyes cut across Victor’s Village, and then past the gate where the town used to be, before it was turned into rubble. “It didn’t look like there’s much to see, based on the last time I was here.”

“That’s because you don’t know where to look.”

While most of the area around the square is still piled beneath dense rubble that’s hard to clear, the structures in the Seam were all made of thin rotting wood, saturated in coal dust. When the fire bombs fell, there was barely even ash left behind, that’s how easily it burned. That’s where most of the rebuilding efforts have been focused since the end of the war. It’s a blank canvas. 

Of the eight hundred District Twelve survivors, fewer than two hundred have returned so far. Most have stayed in Thirteen. Others, like Gale and his family have relocated to other districts, since people are allowed to move freely between them now. While Twelve has started to rebuild, a lot of volunteers from other districts have come in on the train to help. They stay for a week or two at a time to offer spare tools and a helping hand. Now that the damage to the Capitol has been mostly cleared, they’re starting to ship heavy duty trucks, capable of moving a couple tons of stone and dirt at a time, far more than the fleet of horse drawn carts Twelve was initially using.

The Seam is close to the train station, because that’s where the tracks run — where the coal is. So they’ve set up some temporary trailers and tents for volunteers to stay, and a pop up market, made up of simple, covered stands, where they sort out goods for distribution. It’s also become the natural spot for trading basic services.

Katniss has her own stand, where she prepares pelts and deerskin leather when she has it. Delly joins her most days and helps her sew the smaller pelts together into something more usable. Unfortunately, deerskin isn’t great for shoes, but Delly has designed some fur lined work gloves that Katniss is getting pretty good at making too. Sometimes they make salves and herbal remedies using whatever plants Katniss has collected in the woods, and treat whoever is in need of it, since they both had extra medical training in Thirteen. It’s a real catch all kind of stand.

Delly’s the only other familiar face in Twelve to Peeta, so Katniss figures she’s the only other person he would be interested in seeing, and that’s where they go first.

Delly squeals when she sees him. “You made it!” She says, launching herself into his arms. Katniss becomes painfully aware that she didn’t think to hug him back when she first saw him. In fact, they’ve been hovering just out of the other’s reach through the mile walk over here. 

“I made it,” he confirms.

She pulls away. “Did you start the oven?”

“Nice to see you too, Delly,” he teases.

She ignores him and guides him a few stands over, where there’s a paltry spread of Delly’s pale, miss shapen loaves and a plate of neglected cookies.

“What is this?” Peeta says, trying not to sound too horrified, although he obviously looks it.

“The bakery,” Delly says.

“I made cookies,” Katniss chimes in weakly.

He touches her arm and smiles at her gently. “You made something,” he agrees. She should be annoyed with him for being condescending, but this is the first time he’s touched her in months, and all she can do is smile at him dreamily in response. He turns back to Delly. “Well you seem to have this covered, what do you need me for?”

“Fill this stand,” she says, unamused. 

“I was planning on helping out with the cleanup effort,” he says. All Katniss can focus on is his hand leaving her arm and tucking loosely into the pocket of his slacks. She misses his touch already, even with him standing right next to her.

“And what do you think all those volunteers are going to eat?” Delly says.

“There aren’t any bread bushes in season,” Katniss adds. “I checked.” This earns her another smile, and it emboldens her to brush his arm this time.

Peeta takes notice, watching the tentative path of her fingers down his forearm while he rolls his bottom lip between his teeth. “I suppose I can find the time to do both,” he says, catching Katniss’s hand in his, and their joined hands hang between them.

“Funny how that worked out,” Delly says, a knowing glint in her eye. 

“Well seeing as you and Katniss are able to clothe, feed, and heal the entire district on a daily basis, it’s the least I can do.”

Delly is distracted by something over Peeta’s shoulder. “There’s Thom,” she says. “I’m going to check to see if we’re still on schedule for today. Katniss, is Sae working on supper?”

“Goose and rabbit stew,” she confirms.

“How do I look?” she asks Peeta.

He looks perplexed. “I don’t know? Cold?” he says, noting her flushed cheeks.

She rolls her eyes and turns to Katniss for approval. “You look great,” she says.

“What was that about?” Peeta says as Delly saunters away.

“You of all people have to ask?”

His eyebrows lift with understanding. “Oh,” he says, looking embarrassed for not recognizing it sooner. He looks down at their joined hands, and brushes his thumb over her knuckles, then retracts it to comb his fingers through his hair. “Well it sounds like I have to get started on a couple dozen loaves of bread for tomorrow, so I should probably get going.”

“You’ll need supplies for that, right? I can get you a cart and show you the storage warehouse.”

Thom gets them a spare cart and Katniss helps Peeta fill it with flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. He jokingly asks if there’s an industrial stand mixer stashed away, and she knows he isn’t serious, but she’s pretty sure she can pull a few strings through Sae or Boggs or Prim to get one shipped in from kitchen in Thirteen. “Give me a few days,” she says. 

“How’d I know you were going to say that,” he says, loading the last of the flour into the cart. 

The ride back to Victor’s Village is long, since the cart constrains them to only the cleared trails. Peeta looks awkward behind the reins, lifting and pulling on them occasionally, even though the horses know the paths well enough to walk them on their own. 

“It’s kind of a dark thought,” he begins, after they’ve been riding in silence for a while. “But you would have made a good mentor.” She looks at him quizzically. “You’re resourceful,” he elaborates. “You know exactly what’s needed and how to get it. You took a district made only of ash and figured out a way to thrive.”

“I hardly did it on my own,” she says. 

“Take the compliment,” he says, his grin teasing. “It’s a part of my therapy.”

“Being nice to me?”

His eyes don’t leave the road. “Identifying the qualities that explain my feelings towards you.” 

She purses her lips while she studies his face. “I have a list too,” she admits. “I started it kind of late — later than I should have. And hadn’t even realized I had started it at all, but while you were…” she trails off with a sigh. “Not at your best. I made a list of the qualities you still had. To remind myself that you were still in there somewhere.”

“Yeah? Like what?”

“Well, you decorated Finnick and Annie’s wedding cake so beautifully, so you were still a painter, and a baker. And you wandered the corridors at night because there were no windows in the Thirteen compartments. You could never sleep without opening a window, it always made you feel suffocated. There were smaller details too. You never took sugar in your tea. And you double knotted your shoelaces,” she finished, nodding toward the laces on his boots. 

They sit in silence for a long moment. “I’m sorry,” she says quietly. “For giving up on you.”

His smile is easy, but strained. “I don’t blame you. I said some pretty awful things to you.”

“Nothing that I didn’t need to hear.”

“You didn’t deserve it,” he says adamantly. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Neither did you.”

The cart pulls up to Peeta’s house and she helps unload it. “I’ll go bring this back,” she says, taking the reins. 

He stops her with a hand on her hip, and she pauses on the step of the cart, turning to face him. “Well, goodnight Katniss,” he says, lingering shyly.

She stays there too, waiting. Finally he works up the nerve, and brushes a chaste kiss against her lips. It’s over almost before it begins, but somehow it leaves her feeling like she’s flying. She can’t stop smiling, and he can’t either. They’ve shared hundreds of kisses, thousands even, but she thinks this may be her favorite kiss of all.

******

When she wakes, the other side of the bed is still warm. Her fingers stretch, tickled by the coarse hairs that pepper his chest. Her palm flattens across the broad expanse, where she can feel it rise and fall rhythmically. She lets her hand drift lower, the muscles in his abdomen tensing beneath her touch as she brushes past his belly button, to where the blanket is draped over his lap.

When they started sleeping together a few weeks ago, he teased her for immediately getting dressed after. She was always worried about something happening in the night that would require a quick escape. “What if you were naked,” she’d asked, and he only laughed and said, “Then I’d be naked outside.”

Sae’s got her granddaughter downstairs though, so now he puts his undershorts back on to sleep in, so he can remain decent, just in case. 

“No nightmares?” He says now, his voice still husky from sleep.

“Not today,” she says. Today is the first time in seventy six years that there won’t be a reaping. "Today is a good day.”

She tugs on the elastic waistband of his undershorts to free him, then wraps her fingers around his velvety skin. He hardens quickly within her palm, and she shifts in the bed, sitting up to hover over him. 

“A very good day,” he agrees, his eyebrows quirking upwards and his smile lazy when she takes him into her mouth. He hums his approval. “I think I could spend the whole day right here.”

She hitches a leg over his waist to straddle him, and he catches the hem of her nightgown as it rides up, stripping it up over her head. “They’re having a celebration in the town square this afternoon,” she says, hissing when he weighs one of her breasts in his hand. “At two. We should be there.”

He groans. “We can sleep in then.”

She leans forward to kiss him, and he takes advantage of this new position, tipping her hips back to roll her center against his length.

He grins, carding his fingers through her loose hair to push it behind her shoulders. She loves when he smiles while he kisses her. His lips are pulled tight, so it’s shallow and full of teeth, but he’s happy. A few months ago, it felt impossible that he’d ever feel that way around her again, so now she revels in every sign of it.

She breaks the kiss and smiles apologetically. “My mother and sister are coming for it. Their flight gets in this morning.”

He grimaces, checking the sunlight trickling into the room to gauge what time it is. “When? Am I going to have to sneak out the window?”

“At least you’ll be decent,” she teases.

He pins her hips and bucks his off the mattress to thrust against her a few times. “Hey now, you started this,” he reminds her.

“Under much duress on your part,” she says, biting her lip when his fingers dip between her legs. His thumb swirls through her slick heat, circling her clit lazily.

“Exactly. I’m not sure I even like you.”

She arches an eyebrow as she poises his hardened cock at her entrance, his want for her clearly evident. “Still?”

She sinks down onto him and his eyes slip shut. He smiles, content. “No, I think it might be something else.“

“Something else, huh?”

As they move together, she knows this would have happened anyway. That her fire always needed his gentle strength to survive. That she could live a hundred lifetimes, and always find herself right here.

So after, she asks him, “You love me. Real or not real?”

And he tells her, “Real.”

[viscountessevie]

What really gets me is the Kanthony fans, some of them brown girls (!!!!), policing people’s reactions to Simone missing, accusing us of “living in misery” and to stop being negative. All day yesterday they were going on and on about dilf Tony. Disgusting how Kate/Simone isn’t even an afterthought for them. She’s just an extension of him just like the show will treat her

Answering all these together because pretty sure the first three are by the same anon and the last one is in a similar vein.

Related to this post and the fallout of leaving Simone out of the S3 filming announcement video (where the fuck was S2's video fuckers???)

Okay so I am revoking all these desi people's brown cards. Like I know we're not a monolith and you're allowed to want to be happy your fave show is coming back and not have criticism on your dash but guess what? Use the block button. Don't fucking invalidate everyone else's feelings about how racist production has been to it's main Indian lead who has been constantly sidelined since DAY 1. And don't use your brown card as if you speak for all of us. It just gives the yts leeway to use your voice to hurt the rest of us and it's fucking annoying. Just because you align yourself with them isn't going to make them like you. They'll stay rotten and love their racist fave.

I'm really disappointed in those Kathonys who only focus on Anthony. Like whooo the fuck do you think makes him a DILF? Also Simone Ashley isn't campaigning this hard for a baby since Peeta Mellark (thank you to Nia for this joke) for yall to be sidelining her. My interpretation/theory is it's not so much they only see her as an extension of him but rather they hate that Kate is a WoC now and can't project onto her and put themselves in her shoes as a self insert 😒 at least that's the vibe I get from Anthony lovers who don't like Kate anymore (which feels impossible cos how fo you not love Kate?? Well turns out when you're a Sai Bennet!Kate stan 🤢)

The second ask is a clarification to my post here.

Yeah as I said, toxic positivity ain't going to help any of us and stop invalidating the rest of us' concerns and frustrations. It really doesn't make you special to hear you say we're all just so miserable or talking over our voices when talking about how Simone and Kate have been sidelined during her own season.

Lol peaceful Kathonys, I honestly have never met one. Maybe on their blog they are but I bet they're all bitching away in their group chats. Listen the captains of our fandom are Anthony and Kate Sharma-Bridgerton. They are intense clowns who have no chill and we're a reflection of that. But yes it does show how much we love Simone when even the peaceful Kathonys are speaking up on the backlash as we should. We should just keep bullying production into giving us more Kathony after they fucked us over in S2.

Of course they think its easier to market the white guy especially since if they don't talk abt his sexuality they can just let him pass as straight 😒. Honestly I'm starting to see that this show was never for us. They don't care about the POC demographic, it's just tokenism porn for the yts to pat themselves on the back for being so "enlightened" and watching a show with diversity. Same with production for doing the minimum yet pretending like they did so much for their POC characters and audiences.

So yeah fuck this show and we really need to start taking our views elsewhere and since Mr. Malcolm's List is out, we should probably throw all the money at that team so they can create similar shows for us and hopefullly it will outshine the cracker season.

[Also I have this queued so by the time its posted I'll be watching Mr. Malcolm's List so feel free to send me asks abt it! I'll answer them after I finish the movie as a cleanser from discourse!]

[hvrbingers]

[‘apo’ nattawin wattanagitiphat | cis man | he/him | twenty-nine ] ——   welcome to grimrose, lennon saetang. it’s cool that you’re here, you know. haven’t you heard of the history of this place… anyway, how’s being a newcomer who has been in town for five months, especially since you spend most of your days as a photographer for grimrose post? also, not that it’s a bad thing, of course, but i’ve heard people say you can be a little vague more than you are gentle… but that’s just coming from people who are bored here, i promise. to me, you remind me of iris by the goo goo dolls and a camera and skateboard always on your person, wanting to believe there’s good in everyone, a love for your father that you don’t know what to do with. hope to see you around, lennon.

full name — lennon saetang nickname(s) — len, lenny ( his dad only ) name meaning — lover, blackbird, cloak age — twenty-nine date of birth — october 25th place of birth —   boston, massachusetts current location — grimrose, new hampshire gender — cis-man pronouns — he/him sexual orientation — homosexual religion — atheist / it’s complicated occupation — photographer for grimrose / freelancer education level  — bachelors in photojournalism   family —  boribun ‘bobby’ saetang, veronica hayworth ( surrogate ) finances — could be better  spoken languages — thai / siamese, english voiceclaim — apo nattawin  powers — the ability to manipulate magnetism and magnetic fields

inspos: peter parker ( marvel ), erik lehnsherr / magneto ( x-men ), dani clayton ( bly manor ), tk strand ( 911 lone star ), charlie kelmeckis ( perks of being a wallflower ), jonathan byers ( stranger things ), luna lovegood ( harry potter ), peeta mellark ( the hunger games ), marianne sheridan ( normal people ), fleabag ( fleabag ) 

tws: alzheimers mentions, death of a parent

your dad doesn’t talk about where he grew up very much, but from what he does say it was magical childhood, his own father and mother wanting to give him the very best when they moved from thailand. start a new life, raise their son, it might not have been a white picket fence kind of childhood but it was a very happy one before ‘the unknown.’ you were born out of love, out of friendship, on purpose, is what your father would used to say when kids would ask why you didn’t have a traditional ‘mom’. it never used to bother you, and it still doesn’t. you are your father’s son, gentle and kind in such an unforgiving world. 

lennon was given the world from his father growing up, it had always been his father, his best friend veronica and her wife, where one went the other two followed. boston was big but it brought a lot of opportunity for a tiny rambunctious child that could never truly stay still. lennon picks up skateboarding after seeing some kids down their street, he wanted to be just as fast. his dad buys him his first skateboard at six, learns how to ride it for himself and then teaches his son. a couple of bruised knees and palms but he never cries. he’s brave when he needs to be, wants to show his dad that he can keep up with the other kids. 

it’s a happy childhood, lennon is a kid that likes to get his hands on everything, loves to learn and see the world in multi-colour, it’s no surprise when he starts picking up his dad’s old camera and shoots whatever his little eye can see. it comes the skateboard and then the camera, and when his dad takes him to his first protest the pictures that come from it are nothing short but spectacular ( as much as they can be for a child just becoming a pre-teen ). these are the two interests that take up most of lennon’s time an energy but he liked painting too but it was always a little messy. 

when lennon comes out at sixteen his dad makes him a cake and treats it like a second birthday. lennon is loved and cared for in ways that he knows most people are not. there’s kids always shuffling in and out of the saetang house because his dad was a dad to all. it makes sense, because his father was a teacher, and a good way. taught everything that he knew to his young boy who had a thirst for knowledge. 

lennon’s teenage years are not as dark and angsty as they could be but his father starts forgetting things, lennon’s solution is to put sticky notes on the things that he forgets, and reminds him gently that, yes you did tell me that, but tell me it again. 

the world doesn’t flip upside suddenly, it’s a slow and agonising flip that’ll take many years to come. lennon grows older and goes to umass and excels. he has a keen interest in photographic journalism and travels all around the world for the things that he finds important, his dad is proud of him, even if sometimes he forgets to remember him. 

lennon lives in a lot of places before finding homebase in nyc and his dad moves to grimrose to try and find his roots. it’s different now, but bobby always comes to visit lennon for the holidays and vacations, claiming new york city has much more to see than his old hometown.

near the end of his dad’s life does his dad find a permanent fixture in lennon’s new york city apartment, it makes sense because lennon finally has a stable job in the city and can take care of him better there. veronica and her wife visit more and more when lennon has to travel for work, what used to be their unconventional family is brought back together again even amidst the slow-burn of his dad’s declining health.

when his dad dies, the world finally flips and lennon doesn’t know what to do with himself. nothing feels like home anymore because his home had always been a person–his dad. lennon was born on purpose, with a purpose, but he suddenly feels directionless. he takes time off, tries to figure out what to do with himself and his life. 

he ends his lease in new york, packs up his things, and whatever left that his father brought, and he moves to grimrose in the search for finding a sense of purpose, but all that he gets is a house that looks like it was left untouched and memories that he tries to reconstruct back to his dad, and a power that he doesn’t know that he has. 

grief sometimes feels like anger and chaos, for such a gentle boy with gentle hands, it doesn’t make sense. 

headcanons: 

he moved into his dad’s childhood home now that he’s passed but keeps fucking up and making a big mess of everything. he’s been finding out a lot of things about his dad that he never told him. his father’s own parents died when lennon was young so he never had much of a solid relationship with them but from what he knew, they had just about as much love as his dad did. 

truly his dad was just about as much of a wanderer in terms of place as lennon, both never liked staying in one place for too long. his dad loved new york city and so he never minded just kind of dropping out of his life at grimrose to live with lennon or even veronica and her wife in california when they moved

lennon never really was an angry or angsty child, though a lot of things were confusing for a boy that couldn’t exactly stand still in one place for too long which was a burden on a lot of teachers trying to calm down a very hyperactive kid 

was and still is, really big into photojournalism but takes on much smaller projects now, doesn’t really want to go out of town too much because its just the last little remnants of his dad 

he’s been taking on photograph commissions on the side for extra cash, some people have even asked him to document their paranormal experiences with his camera even if he’s a little skeptical about all of it

i’ll eventually dive into his powers when it comes to play but it’s essentially magneto from x-men’s powers and that’s a lot for a gentle guy !! literally doesn’t know why he’s so angry all the time but he is 

still kind at heart, wants to give people the benefit of the doubt and second chances

[oneboxofmatches]

All You Need to Know About Matchups!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE WAITLIST

Hi y'all!

This account is solely for matchups for several different fandoms. That means requests for imagines, oneshots, headcanons, etc. will NOT be taken.

Here are some basic things to know about requesting a matchup!

Unless otherwise specified for a certain fandom, a request yields one romantic pairing AND one friendship pairing as well as information on why I think you work well with the individuals I choose. Of course, if you only wish to receive either just the romantic matchup or just the friendship matchup, just let me know!

You can request matchups for several different fandoms at once! For each fandom you request, I will match you up with one romantic partner and one friend unless you request differently.

You can ask to exclude any character(s)!

Where can I request a matchup?

Requests can be made in the MATCHUP REQUESTS/ASK ME ANYTHING tab.

What do I need to include in my request?

Required

Fandom(s)

Your gender and/or pronouns

Your sexual orientation and/or preferences

Description of personality

Optional (but definitely helps me out!)

Description of appearance

Hobbies

Personality alignment (Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, Hogwarts House, etc.)

What you would look for in a partner and/or friend

Any other information you think would be helpful – the more you provide, the more I can work with!

Now with that out of the way, onto the fandoms!

Listed directly below is a shortlist of all the fandoms I take requests for as well as some extra information as needed.

Disclaimers

If a title is in italics, it means that while I feel comfortable providing matchups for this show, I have not watched every season. If a character drastically changes after a certain point, I may not be aware. The last season I watched of these shows will be included in parentheses.

All movies/shows based on novels will most likely focus on the on-screen adaptations of characters.

SHOWS

The 100 (6)

Good Omens

The Good Place (3)

Lucifer (4)

On My Block

Parks and Recreation (4)

Prodigal Son (1)

Sherlock

Space Force

Supernatural (14)

The Walking Dead (8)

MOVIES

Clueless

The Greatest Showman

Harry Potter -- Unless specified in request, will entail 2 sets of matchups as a student (Golden Trio and Marauders eras respectively)

The Hunger Games

Marvel Cinematic Universe -- Unless age is specified, underage characters will NOT be available for romantic matchups

BROADWAY

Anastasia

Beetlejuice

Carrie (2012 Off-Broadway)

Hadestown

Hamilton

Les Misérables

The Phantom of the Opera

Six

VIDEO GAMES

Detroit: Become Human

Red Dead Redemption 2

What’s below the cut?

A masterlist of characters in each fandom that will be considered for each request (unless marked with an asterisk (*), all characters are assumed to be available for both romantic AND friendly matchups while names marked with an asterisk are only available for friendly matchups). Listed alphabetically by first name.

Don’t be afraid to tell me about a typo!

Any questions? Just want to talk? You can also use the  MATCHUP REQUESTS/ASK ME ANYTHING tab to get ahold of me!

SHOWS

Bellamy Blake

Clarke Griffin

Echo

Finn Collins

Harper McIntyre

Jasper Jordan

Johnathan “John” Murphy

Jordan Green

Lexa

Lincoln

Marcus Kane

Monty Green

Octavia Blake

Raven Reyes

Roan

Wells Jaha

Aziraphale

Anathema Device

Crowley

Newton Pulsifer

Mme. Tracy*

Witchfinder Sgt. Shadwell*

Chidi Anagonye

Eleanor Shellstrop

Jason Mendoza

Michael*

Tahani Al-Jamil

Amenadiel

Det. Chloe Decker

Det. Daniel “Dan” Espinoza

Ella Lopez

Eve

Dr. Linda Martin*

Lucifer Morningstar

Mazikeen “Maze”

Cesar Diaz

Jamal Turner

Jasmine Flores

Monsé Finnie

Oscar “Spooky” Diaz

Ruben “Ruby” Martinez Jr.

Andrew “Andy” Dwyer

Ann Perkins

April Ludgate

Benjamin “Ben” Wyatt

Christopher “Chris” Traeger

Donna Meagle*

Gerald “Jerry” Gergich*

Jean-Ralphio Saperstein*

Leslie Knope

Ronald “Ron” Swanson*

Ainsley Whitly

Det. Dani Powell

Edrisa Tanaka

Lt. Gil Arroyo

Det. James “JT” Tarmel

Jessica Whitly

Malcolm Bright

DI Greg Lestrade

Mrs. Hudson*

James “Jim” Moriarty

Dr. John Watson

Mary Morstan*

Molly Hooper

Mycroft Holmes

Sherlock Holmes

Dr. Adrian Mallory*

Capt. Angela Ali

Brig. Gen. Bradley Gregory*

Dr. Chan Kaifang

Duncan Tabner

Erin Naird

F. Tony Scarapiducci

Kelly King

Maggie Naird*

Gen. Mark Naird*

Abbie “Bela” Talbot*

Adam Milligan

Alex Jones

Balthazar

Benjamin “Benny” Lafitte

Castiel

Charlene “Charlie” Bradbury

Claire Novak

Crowley

Dean Winchester

Sheriff Donna Hanscum

Eileen Leahy

Ellen Harvelle*

Gabriel

Garth Fitzgerald IV

Jack Kline

Jessica “Jess” Moore*

Joanna “Jo” Harvelle

Sheriff Jody Mills*

John Winchester

Kaia Nieves

Kevin Tran

Lucifer

Meg Masters

Michael “Mick” Davies

Patience Turner

Robert “Bobby” Singer*

Rowena MacLeod

Rufus Turner*

Samuel “Sam” Winchester

Aaron

Abraham Ford

Andrea*

Beth Greene

Carl Grimes*

Carol Peletier*

Dale Horvath*

Daryl Dixon

Dwight

Enid*

Eugene Porter*

King Ezekiel*

Father Gabriel Stokes

Glenn Rhee

Hershel Greene*

Maggie Greene

Michonne

Morgan Jones*

Negan Smith

Paul “Jesus” Rovia

Rick Grimes

Rosita Espinosa

Sasha Williams

Tara Chambler

Tyreese Williams

MOVIES

Cher Horowitz

Dionne Davenport

Josh Lucas

Tai Frasier

Travis Birkenstock

Anne Wheeler

Charity Barnum

Jenny Lind

Lettie Lutz*

Phillip Carlyle

Phineas “P.T.” Barnum

W.D. Wheeler

Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody*

Albus Dumbledore*

Arthur Weasley*

Cedric Diggory

Cho Chang

Draco Malfoy

Fleur Delacour

Fred Weasley

George Weasley

Ginevra “Ginny” Weasley

Harry Potter

Hermione Granger

James Potter

Lily Evans

Luna Lovegood

Minerva McGonagall*

Molly Weasley*

Neville Longbottom

Nymphadora Tonks*

Oliver Wood

Remus Lupin

Ronald “Ron” Weasley

Rubeus Hagrid*

Severus Snape

Sirius Black

Viktor Krum

Cinna

Effie Trinket*

Finnick Odair

Gale Hawthorne

Haymitch Abernathy*

Johanna Mason

Katniss Everdeen

Peeta Mellark

Anthony “Tony” Stark -- Iron Man

Dr. Bruce Banner -- Hulk

Carol Danvers -- Captain Marvel

Dr. Christine Palmer*

Clint Barton -- Hawkeye

Drax the Destroyer*

Edward “Ned” Leeds

Gamora

Groot*

Harold “Happy” Hogan*

Dr. Henry “Hank” Pym*\

Hope van Dyne -- Wasp

Sgt. James “Bucky” Barnes -- Winter Soldier

Col. James “Rhodey” Rhodes -- War Machine

Loki Laufeyson

Luis*

Mantis*

Dr. Margaret “Peggy” Carter*

Cdr. Maria Hill*

May Parker*

Lord M’Baku

Michelle “MJ” Jones

Nakia

Natasha Romanoff -- Black Widow

Nebula*

Col. Nicholas “Nick” Fury*

Okoye

Peter Parker -- Spider-Man

Peter Quill -- Star-Lord

Agt. Phillip “Phil” Coulson*

Pietro Maximoff -- Quicksilver

Rocket*

Samuel “Sam” Wilson -- Falcon

Scott Lang -- Ant-Man

Shuri

Dr. Stephen Strange

Steven “Steve” Rogers -- Captain America

King T’Challa -- Black Panther

Thor Odinson

Valkyrie

Virginia “Pepper” Potts

Vision

Wanda Maximoff -- Scarlet Witch

W’Kabi

Wong*

Yelena Belova

Yondu Udonta*

BROADWAY

Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov

Dimitri Sudayev

Gleb Vaganov

Countess Lily Malevsky-Malevitch*

Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna*

Vladimir “Vlad” Popov*

Adam Maitland

Barbara Maitland

Beetlejuice*

Delia Schlimmer

Lydia Deetz*

Carrie White

Christine “Chris” Hargensen

Susan “Sue” Snell

Thomas “Tommy” Ross

Eurydice

Hades

Hermes*

Orpheus

Persephone

Aaron Burr

Alexander Hamilton

Angelica Schuyler

Elizabeth “Eliza” Schuyler

George Washington

Hercules Mulligan

James Madison

John Laurens

Margarita “Peggy” Schuyler

Maria Reynolds

Marquis de Lafayette

Philip Hamilton

Thomas Jefferson

Cosette

Enjolras

Éponine Thénardier

Fantine

Insp. Javert

Jean Valjean

Marius Pontmercy

Carlotta Giudicelli*

Christine Daaé

Erik “The Phantom”

Mme. Giry*

Meg Giry

Raoul de Chagny

Anna of Cleves

Anne Boleyn

Catherine of Aragon

Catherine Parr

Jane Seymour

Katherine Howard

VIDEO GAMES

Carl Manfred*

Chloe

Det. Chris Miller*

Connor

Elijah Kamski

Lt. Hank Anderson*

Capt. Jeffrey Fowler*

Josh

Kara

Leo Manfred

Lucy*

Luther

Markus

North

Rose Chapman*

Simon

Abigail Roberts

Arthur Morgan

Beau Gray*

Charles Smith

Daniël “Dutch” Van der Linde

Eagle Flies

Hosea Matthews*

Javier Escuella

Johnathan “John” Marston Sr.

Josiah Trelawny

Karen Jones

Kieran Duffy

Leonard “Lenny” Summers

Marion “Bill” Williamson

Mary-Beth Gaskill

Micah Bell

Molly O’Shea

Penelope Braithwaite*

Rev. Orville Swanson*

Sadie Adler

Sean MacGuire

Simon Pearson*

Tilly Jackson

[katnissmellarkkk]

Alrightttt, I’m on a roll so we’re going onto chappy five 🥳🥳🥳😎😎

I know the movies made the Capitol — re: basically only Effie and maybe Caesar — have those ridiculous made up accents but .... I actually feel like the description of the Capitol accent in the book is supposed to be like the Kardashians or Paris Hilton’s voice. 🤷🏼‍♀️

“Why do these people speak in such a high pitch? Why do their jaws barely open when they talk? Why do the ends of their sentences go up as if they're asking a question? Odd vowels, clipped words, and always a hiss on the letter s. no wonder it's impossible not to mimic them.” Like this is a pretty good description of how Kim Kardashian and her sisters talk. And Suzzy C did say she was inspired by the juxtaposition between war news footage and ridiculous reality television shows so... I think my theory of the Capitol all talking like they’re on the Real Housewives of LA is pretty valid.

Just imagine Paris Hilton as Effie and Nicole Richie as one of her preps

Lolololol this whole section of waxing is reminding me to go get my legs waxed 😭😭😭 straight up calling me out here, Suzanne

I like how Katniss says her stylist “apparently has no interest in seeing her until the prep team has addressed obvious problems.” Like you can tell from her narration she was expecting to feel the same was about Cinna that she does about Effie and her prep team.

The “gritty loam that takes off dirt and three layers of skin” is probably just a strong exfoliator 😭😭😭 my girl knows nothing about quality skincare 🤧🤧 someone build a Panem Sephora

She mentioned them waxing her underarms.... girl, did you have hairy armpits before this? Idk why this revelation is new to me

“Grease her down!” Just sounds wrong 😅😅😅😅 I need to stop being annoying omg I’m like a twelve year old

Hmm it’s funny to me that Katniss refers to Octavia as plump. You’d think in a place like the Capitol body image and weight would be very important. Unless it’s like back in the old, old days when being overweight was a sign of wealth. Which would make more sense so this was an unnecessary thought process curtesy of Samantha

Katniss faking a smile and thanking her prep team shows she does know how to play the game and fake it better than she says.

So ... okay, hear me out, I’m not trying to get over the top or make this into something it’s not but ... the whole stylists / Cinna coming into the room and staring at her naked is a little weird. Especially considering Cinna isn’t Lenny Kravitz who’s like a bit older than her but actually like a twenty-something year old dude.

But okay, here’s the thing I was getting at ... Cinna’s one of the best people in this series and you can’t deny that. Even if you find him boring, he’s still one of Katniss’ closest people. Also he’s probably gay. But like ... what about the other stylists? I don’t wanna be that person who makes everything more than it is, but like, this scene just sounds like a perfect opportunity for some Capitol creep to assault a teenager idk I’m probably making a mountain out of a molehill just ignore Samantha okay.

That’s nice that he complimented her mama though 🥰🥰🥰

So Katniss calls District Twelve the least desirable district but ... doesn’t District Eleven suck too? Like she also later says District Twelve is the smallest and the poorest but doesn’t she also say Rue is worse off than her and Prim? Make up your mind, Suz.

Cinna claims he asked for District Twelve but did he really get an option? 😅 If it’s his first year and Katniss claims the newbies get them anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️ Samantha is once again, reading too much into this.

Awww, Katniss is thinking about how long it would take for her to assemble this fancy meal at home 🤧🤧🤧 it would take her days and the Capitol just has the necessary resources at their disposal and they just takes it for granted. And yes, I’m aware this is supposed to be calling all us readers out who take so much for granted I know. We’re the Capitol.

“How would I spend the hours I now commit to combing the woods for sustenance if it were so easy to come by?” It’s honestly so sad but so vital to her character that Katniss has zero hobbies or real free time. Her life is about surviving. She doesn’t get to live or enjoy very much of her time. She dedicates everything to keeping Prim — and her mother — alive, sacrificing everything a teenage girl should be doing. Sacrificing even the things the other girls in her world get to do. She mentions the merchant girls and the Seam girls who are more experienced romantically and sexually and socially than her. Because she doesn’t get to be a kid or innocent or even happy, in order to focus on her and her family’s survival. And the things she does enjoy, like spending time with Gale or dancing with Prim (mentioned in Mockingjay) she downplays in case they’re taken away, because nothing good is secure in her eyes. 🥺🥺🥺

Okay but what did Katniss’ facial expression give away that Cinna knew exactly what she was thinking? Or is she just less emotionless than she and Haymitch both claim? Ironically I think they’re the only people who call her emotionless which can easily be chalked up to their self-hate and terrible self-esteems.

Katniss is so afraid they’re gonna make her be naked for the parade 😭. Honestly though they’re children that’s so creepy that they’re even allowed to make 15/16/17 year olds be naked in a parade. I mean I know they kill kids every year but isn’t there like child pornography laws in Panem? 😭

“You’re not afraid of fire, are you, Katniss?” Is so foreshadowing 😭😂😅😎 Caesar Flickerman’s voice “Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire!”

Honestly though Cinna is smart to make Katniss recognizable in the arena by leaving her with simple makeup. I know and the sky is blue we all know this already beating the dead horses until the farmer comes home.

“It crosses my mind that Cinna's calm and normal demeanor masks a complete madman.” It’s true though 😅😅😅😭😭 he was always a rebel. I actually think he may have asked for District Twelve after Katniss volunteered, because he saw the potential in her. Poor Peeta. Baby, I’m rooting you for even if no one else is.

Also I always found it a bit .... curious? That Peeta had a female stylist and Katniss had a male one? Not just because of the required nudity, you’d just think men would do better as a boy’s stylist and a woman would make a better girl’s stylist. So yes, my whole Cinna was interested in District Twelve because Katniss seemed like a good symbol for a rebellion idea seems very plausible.

I know I know I know I read wayyy too much into this stuff sometimes a cigarette 🚬 is just a cigarette 🚬

Katniss being relieved when Peeta shows up 😭😭😭 because even if she won’t admit it and even if she won’t let herself trust him, she still sees him unconsciously and completely against her will as a comfort because they’re in this thing together in a way, even if they’re supposed to try and kill each other

And honestly, it’s such a like... relatable feeling? To feel alone and nervous and uptight and then someone who you recognize — even if you maybe aren’t even friends with but you at least know — shows up and you just instantly feel less alone. I’m totally looking at this through shipper goggles and I’m not even ashamed you all knew who’s blogging you were reading ight? 😂🤣🤷🏼‍♀️

“He should know about fire, being a baker's son and all.” And he’s gonna learn a lot more about it when he falls in love — for real, falls in love, not a childhood infatuation — with the girl on fire. 🥰🥰🥰

But also, I love this particular line on a reread because it totally is an indicator towards their future. Like Peeta knows about fire, he’s experienced with how to handle it, and later on, he becomes the only person who truly comes to understand Katniss, who represents fire, in a way that no one else could ever imagine.

Hmmm, Katniss’ point of view here, talking about how Portia and Peeta’s team seem all giddy and air-headed and it’s only Cinna who seems reserved makes me rethink my previous imaginings of Peeta’s stylist. Maybe she’s just a Capitolite idiot and nothing like Cinna. And my baby got a raw deal here then too. Good thing Haymitch loves him more. Just kidding 😅😅😅

But also I wanna know why Cinna is hesitant to accept congratulations for his and Portia’s idea? Wasn’t he at least lowkey excited about it when he pitched it a page ago?

Their horses are coal black 🐴 😅. I like that they went the whole nine yards with the theme. Nothing but the best for the kids on Death Row.

Aww Katniss asking Peeta what he thinks about being set on fire is so sweet and pure for some reason. I just find their commodore here cute ok

“I'll rip off your cape if you'll rip off mine” this is literally their first friend type of interaction and it’s so pure y’all leave me be I’m emotional for them

🙃 Also lowkey reminds me of “I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” Everyone look away ok I’m sorry

Peeta’s shady/annoyed Haymitch comment and Katniss’ joke at his expense 🤣🤣😂🤣😂😂🥲🥲☺️🥲🥲 they’re bonding it’s so presh

“And suddenly we're both laughing.” I hope they laugh a lot together post-canon 🥲🥲🥲. If they can make the other laugh during their terrible circumstances, then they can make the other laugh anywhere. 🤧 Except in Thirteen because he’s hijacked and she’s certifiable and they’re both so used and abused and 🥺🥺🥺🥺

Okay I have to say, Suzanne Collins really builds up a lot for certain events and then just like grazes over the actual action of said event? Like she builds towards the tribute parade but then kind of rushes through off the actual event itself? It’s a common theme in her writing. And I don’t like it at all ngl.

Oh wait she doesn’t actually rush the parade events the paragraph before just looked like she was about to I jumped the gun 🤣😂🤭 but what I said is still completely true for many events in these books sorry not sorry

I’m definitely reading too much into it but the fact that District One — the favorite of the Capitol — gets snow white horses and District Twelve gets coal black horsies kind of ... seems to imply something .... 🤭

Cinna just lets out a sigh of relief “it worked” like ... way to fill your tributes with hope, dude. “Yeah, you’re totally safe, don’t be scared-OH THANK GOD THAT WORKED I wasn’t actually sure you wouldn’t blow up.” But actually this answers my previous inquiry about why he seemed hesitant I guess he wasn’t even sure this wouldn’t burn them up that’s nice 🤭🙃

It’s a literal trial by fire *cue drum hit* ���� aww, I just cracked myself up 😭

“Then he gently tucks a hand under my chin. "Remember, heads high. Smiles. They're going to love you!" This is caught halfway between being very Capitol-y and very father-brotherly and idk which way to take it but it’s kind of cute 🤭

“For the first time, I look at him and realize that ablaze with the fake flames, he is dazzling.” This is such a significant line because Katniss isn’t saying Peeta is technically good looking (like when Haymitch said they were decently attractive) or someone else thinks he’s good looking (i.e Gale, her mother and lowkey Finnick) but she’s saying she herself thinks he’s attractive. Girl, your crush is showing.

"I think he said for us to hold hands," says Peeta.” I’m sure Cinna actually did say that but this just seems like a very good opportunity for Peeta to hold the hand of the girl he has a massive crush on. 😭😭😭

Okay Cinna gave a thumbs up so he actually was saying that but can you imagine Peeta’s excitement right now?

I mean, yeahhhh, there’s the certain death looming over him too but like live in the moment, babe. 🥰😘🤗👌🏻

I like that Katniss says the crowd is at first like 😳😳😳 before they start cheering like they’re thinking “what are these backwoods, hillbilly kids doing this year?”

“At first, I'm frozen, but then I catch sight of us on a large television screen and am floored by how breathtaking we look. In the deepening twilight, the firelight illuminates our faces” okay they both have to be pretty naturally attractive people objectively, because you illuminate my face without much makeup and no one is gonna be cheering.

“Remember, heads high. Smiles. They're going to love you! I hear Cinna's voice in my head. I lift my chin a bit higher, put on my most winning smile, and wave with my free hand.” I wonder what the true difference is for Katniss between Cinna and Effie saying this to her? Maybe it’s that Effie is just outright mean to her sometimes whereas Cinna shows her nothing but kindness from the start and expresses sympathy and understanding? It’s probably that he’s already earning her trust versus Effie who’s just cruel I’m not over her comments on the train ok

“I'm glad now I have Peeta to clutch for balance, he is so steady, solid as a rock.” Right from the start, Katniss refers to Peeta as solid and steady. Idk, I feel like this is something that the movies really misses along the way. Katniss wasn’t always strong or confident at all and Peeta, at least publicly, exuded those qualities pretty well. Samantha’s complaining again ™️ 💁🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️

Also this is just outright foreshadowing how Peeta will eventually become her rock. Or that he will be soon painted a rock ... pick and choose which way you wanna go with this. 🤷🏼‍♀️💁🏼‍♀️😅🤣

“As I gain confidence, I actually blow a few kisses to the crowd.” Okay, see I feel like Peeta really gives Katniss confidence in herself. If he’d been there in District Thirteen and they’d done propos together, she probably would have been a thousand times better.

But also this makes me think Katniss actually has it in her to be a charismatic, confident, alluring celebrity. She just chooses not to. 🤗🤗🤗

But this also reminds me of “She has no idea the effect she can have” okay imma move on and stop focusing on every little detail

I say that every chapter 🤧😅

“The pounding music, the cheers, the admiration work their way into my blood, and I can't suppress my excitement.” Say whatever you want, Katniss is still such a girl underneath it all. She gets excited over people liking her and cheering her on. And I know it’s because it increases her chances of getting sponsors but still

Honestly Peeta trying to showcase Katniss and let her take the spotlight is so selfless and indicative of his ultimate plan to help her win but also ... I can see how Katniss would believe it’s too good to be true and he’s messing with her. That he’s just playing the game to earn her trust, get her guard down and manipulate her later.

See, Peeta is actually framed at the start like the typical, standard YA love interest turned villain. In majority of YA books, at this point the boy is kind and sweet and helpful to the girl until she trusts him completely and then he turns on her and uses everything she gave him to destroy her. But the difference is, Katniss refuses to truly trust him and she is guessing his game incorrectly at every step. And then it’s revealed that it was never a game and he truly isn’t messing with her and everything he’s done that’s seem too good to be true and not even remotely plausible has actually been genuine and heartfelt and that, my friends, is why Peeta is above all other YA love interests. Because Everlark is actually the foil to many of the cliches. That was a long speech over some incoherent thoughts I’m so sorry if you suffered through that.

“It's not until we enter the City Circle that I realize I must have completely stopped the circulation in Peeta's hand. That's how tightly I've been holding it.” Awww he is her rock 😭🤧🥺

"No, don't let go of me," he says. The firelight flickers off his blue eyes. "Please. I might fall out of this thing." Okay this part is so cute and so blatantly setting Peeta up as her main love interest omg 😅 this isn’t the least bit subtle or disguised. But first off, the fact that Katniss is also Peeta’s stability here too 😭😭😭 and second of all, she takes time to notice his blue eyes against the firelight? She was attracted to him from the very start, y’all. That’s indisputable. 👌🏻😎🤧

“It's not really fair to present us as a team and then lock us into the arena to kill each other.” I agree with you, baby, it’s not fair at all. But you two take care of that situation nicely. Or not. Y’all do start a dang war. 🤭🤭🙃🙃

It’s rather ... ironic that it’s District Twelve’s chariot of them all that is pulled up and stopped directly in front of President Snow’s mansion. I know it’s a book, certain details like this are definitively contrived, I know get over it. 🤦🏼‍♀️💁🏼‍♀️

So uh. Snow is a small thin man? Why do I suddenly imagine Danny Devito as Snow 😅😅😅😅🤣🤣🤣🤣 y’all know he’d kill the role

“The darker it becomes, the more difficult it is to take your eyes off our flickering.” Okay, this is such a great line and it’s so significant to the rest of the series? The fact that Katniss — and Peeta, let’s not forget our boy — became symbols of the revolution. Like this line is deep if you think about it. The worse things in Panem got, the more the civilians looked towards Katniss and Peeta for hope 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥰🥰🥰🥰

Omg now after Songbirds and Snakes, we know the national anthem. I’m sorry, babies, that you have to endure that I’ll get you out of there 🙉🙉🙉

I feel like in part, the Capitol camera crew — Cressida, Pollux .... Pollux’s brother... is that you here???? — put so much attention on District Twelve because it would create some resentment and competition between them and the careers 🤭🤗

“I notice a lot of the other tributes are shooting us dirty looks, which confirms what I've suspected, we've literally outshone them all.” Insert Gretchen Wieners “I can’t help that I’m popular!” 😅😅😅😅😅

“I realize I'm still glued to Peeta and force my stiff fingers to open. We both massage our hands.” — they were hanging on so tight 😭😭😭😭

“Thanks for keeping hold of me.” He’s so sweet ☺️☺️☺️ I love him even if he’s kind of an idiot sometimes but so is Katniss so let’s not point fingers

“I'm sure they didn't notice anything but you. [...] And then he gives me a smile that seems so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness” Omg I know Katniss views this as him trying to manipulate her but the fact that he’s actually just admitting the way he’s felt for years is so 😭😭😭😭 if only you’d spit it out sooner, Bready

“he gives me a smile that seems so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness that unexpected warmth rushes through me.” She literally has a crush on her fellow tribute and her first line of defense is to decide he out to get her for making her feel this way 🤣😭🙃

“The more likable he is, the more deadly he is.” The more my crush grows, the more deadly he becomes. I know I’m reading this with shipper goggles but guess what? I’m unashamed. 🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️🤷🏼‍♀️ who feels guilty for reading this book with an Everlark bias not this girl right here 🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️🙋🏼‍♀️

“I stand on tiptoe and kiss his cheek. Right on his bruise.” Okay first off, she says cheek here but according to a chapter ago, she claimed the mark was on his jaw... so in other words, she’s incredibly short. If a medium height guy has a bruise on his jaw and she has to stand on her tip toe to reach it... well... hashtag LittleKatniss

And second off.... can you even imagine how Peeta must feel. He genuinely complimented her here, the girl he has had a crush on forever, and she responds by kissing his cheek. He was probably really happy at this moment. And also this probably played further into his buying into her false display in the arena. That here we have her clutching his hand, smiling and laughing with him and kissing his cheek. Idk what I was trying to say necessarily but I made myself sad wow way to go me 🥺🥺🥺🥺🤧🤧🤧

Anyways! Those are my very over the top and too detailed thoughts! Hope you enjoyed if you read this! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳😎😎😎😎😎😎😎🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[everlarkbirthdaygifts]

Happy Birthday, booksandeverlark!

Our sincerest apologies for the delay on your gift, @booksandeverlark​! We hope your birthday back on October 22nd was a wonderful one, and that you got exactly the presents you were hoping for. To bring your party feels back around, the lovely @mega-aulover​ has written a monster of a fic just for you!

RATED E - For sexual situations and trigger warnings for manhandling and mild violence.  Some Hunger Characters are off Cannon for the purpose of the story. 

a/n Peeta Mellark is one of the worlds most recognizable stars, and he needs a break. He goes missing and is hiding in plain sight because he has fallen for Katniss Everdeen who is raising a tween Prim. Everything goes according to plan until one day Hollywood comes a’callin  

- special thanks to @norbertsmom who beta’d this monster of a story. 20K sorry to Booksandeverlark for the lateness of the story I hope you had a belated birthday.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pete Holly Golightly 

-THE JUNKET 

“Where the hell is the kid?” Haymitch growled. 

“He’s in his bedroom,” his red-haired assistant said, popping her gum not even looking up from her phone.

Haymitch opened the door, and saw red.  He took his phone and called the kid, and the phone began ringing. There was a buzzing sound coming from behind the ensuite bathroom. The younger generation never went anywhere without their phones. The kid was no exception. 

“Kid,” Haymitch marched into the room and banged on the door. 

He had a bone to pick with the kid. The junket was a roller coaster. The kid was barely coherent during the second half of the interviews.  His co-stars did the heavy lifting.  Haymitch did everything in his power to get the kid in this movie, and he was brilliant, an Oscar worthy performance, but now the kid was burnt out.

The phone began buzzing again. 

“Come on Peeta. I know you’re in there I can hear the phone buzzing.” 

It was silent on the opposite side of the bathroom door. 

“Kid,” Haymitch said once more. Peeta was one of the most responsible people. Today was so out of character for him. Yet again, the pressure by the press lately made the kid feel like a guppy in a bowl full of piranhas.

A few weeks ago, some not-so-distinguished members of the press broke into the kid’s home. Peeta’s privacy was smashed when he found out it was his own mother who gave the pap’s the key to his house for a cool $100K. Ever since then the kid changed.

Haymitch was worried. The pressure was getting to Peeta. He was no longer having fun. His smiles never reached his eyes anymore. Haymitch was just about the only one who could tell when Peeta became Peet-the-movie-star. No one could distinguish the polished, charming, and funny persona from the genuine affable, fiercely loyal, kind kid Peeta was at the core of his being. 

After the press junket was over the kid gave him the slip. Normally they talked about the next project or movie. Opening the door, Haymitch cursed when he saw the kids’ phone on the bathroom counter with a note next to it.

“Haymitch, I’m just exhausted. I need a break. I promise I’ll be at the world premiere of the movie - Holly Golightly.” 

Haymitch crushed the note in his hand. He laughed bitterly at the code name the kid gave himself whenever he checked into a hotel. The kid loved the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Thankfully, this was the last appearance Peeta had to make before the movie premier in less than a week. But a week later, when Peeta didn’t make it to his movie premiere, the entire industry went up in arms.

Peeta's disappearance was the talk of the town. Even three weeks later the fury hadn’t died down. Every paparazzi fueled by the promise of the mini fortune for the first picture of Peeta Mellark was now hunting down the kid. The good boy gone missing had every tabloid spinning articles and fake sightings. Peeta had gone into the Elvis Presley stratosphere of speculation. Everything from aliens, to he became a monk. One thing for certain, the pap’s were seeking Peeta like a struggling dieter seeking a rich German chocolate cake.

-THE SEARCH

“You got any proof you saw Peeta Mellark?” Claudius questioned Judy Morphling.

“You got the cash?” the thin girl with the dark circles under her eyes asked.

Claudius showed Judy the white envelope filled with a couple of hundred-dollar-bills. She was a junkie. And he took advantage of her broke status to make a quick buck to fix her addiction. Claudius slipped the envelope back into his pocket. He wasn't fooled by kids like these.

He’d spent the past four weeks hunting down dead ends. People willing to sell their left arm for money. True, there were other pursuits where he scored a couple of thousand. The hottest going ticket in tinsel town was finding the whereabouts of Hollywood's golden good boy Peeta Mellark. The movie he was in had gone to number one for the past four weeks. It was driven by the mystery of his disappearance, and the phenomenal acting performance in the movie about race. It was a true story, a love story about a man who moved heaven and earth for the love of his life, a freed slave. 

“Okay,” she said.

“Now the proof,” Caludius demanded. 

He was familiar with his informant's story, all too well. Judy won a popular game show when she was in college. She became an instant national sweetheart. During her 15 minute of fame, she was invited to every single hot Hollywood party. Subsequently, she got hooked on alcohol and drugs. One of the bellhops tipped him off that she was in the hotel where Peeta was having the junket and that she had seen him the day he disappeared.

She looked side to side nervously reaching into her pocket to whip out her phone. "Here."

With detached indifference he looked at the picture. It was hard to tell, the guy had on a baseball cap and sunglasses. Claudius swiped the screen and saw that trademark chiseled chin his ex fawned over. It was him. Still, knowing the kid had walked out of the junket didn’t help him. He wasn’t ready to part with his money for just any reason.  “This could be anyone,” he said.

Judy lifted an eyebrow. “A friend of mine that works at a gas station said he also saw him.”

Claudius took a step back. “Sorry Judy. I need real proof.”

“I just need something to tide me over...please...look I have a friend... my friend’s name is Morph.”

“Morph like in the TV show?”

“His mom was a big into 1970’s reruns.” She shrugged, though the light trembling in her lips let Caludius know she was desperate. 

“Okay look.” He took out a twenty and showed it to her. Her eyes went wide as she stared at the money. “Give me this guys information. If it proves to be fruitful, I’ll pay you what you asked for.”

“Okay,” she held out her hand. “I’ll text you his information.”

His phone buzzed. He looked down at the information. “That’s out of State?”

“Yeah.” Her eyes were on the money. 

“You say he works at a gas station?” Claudius enjoyed taunting his informants. He waved the cash, like a cat and mouse game. 

“Near the border.”  

Claudius withdrew the folded bill. He needed assurances that she wasn’t just talking to get the money and not coming through with information vital to him. The payout for finding Mellark was nearly 200K. Judy licked her lips as her eyes followed the money reaching out with her hand.

“I’ll text Morph to give you an exclusive.” 

“Text him now.”

“Okay, okay.” Judy’s fingers moved quickly over the screen of her phone. She even included him in the group chat. When the reply came back as “no problem”, Claudius was satisfied. 

“Here ya go,” Claudius said, giving her the twenty bucks. He walked away; he needed to make the trip to Peeta Mellark’s last known position. He hummed as he got into his car, thrilled for the chase. 

-LIVING WITH THE ENEMY

Gale Hawthorne glowered from underneath the tree in his backyard as District Twelve’s newest resident, that blond painter Pete Golightly, made a move on Katniss Everdeen. He was supposed to be taking out the trash when he saw them by the curbside.

They stood so close in the dark that she was swallowed up by the guy's physique. But they weren’t touching, and although that was a relief, he wasn’t going to leave anything to chance. 

He liked Katniss. No, that was an understatement. He more than liked her, he could see that there was a potential between them. She was smart, he wouldn’t call her pretty, hell she never smiled. But she made sense to him, she was practical, determined, efficient, loyal, punctual, and some much more. Katniss never looked at him like a piece of man meat. A lot of girls looked at him that way.

Frankly it was great, but sometimes, Gale sighed, sometimes he wanted to have an honest conversation with a girl. With Katniss he could, he’d talk, sure she didn’t say much, but she listened and that’s what he wanted. He held a candle for her so long that watching her with the new guy made him grow tense. He wanted to punch a wall.

The nerve in his temple drummed making his headache even worse. 

Rubbing his temple he wondered what the hell a guy like Golightly had that made Katniss, and for that matter, every single woman within a fifty mile radius act like a cat in heat.  Even his own mother talked about how handsome the painter was. And of all of the available girls, the douche chose Katniss to hang around. 

The peal of girlish laughter reached his ears. Gale walked closer, using the darkness to hide himself. He wanted to hear what they were saying. He crouched by her car. From this position he could see them. Pete dipped his head low near hers. Gale knew that hovering move, it was a move he used to get close enough to kiss a girl. 

Gale furled his fist. He watched Katniss reach up and smooth Pete’s golden locks away from his face. 

Katniss didn’t do that. She didn’t touch people, hell she didn’t like to be touched. He recalled how she recoiled when he tried to touch her. She did the same thing at Greasy Sea's whenever someone touched her by accident. Gale loved it when she scowled at them.   

Then she leaned up on tiptoe.

“No, no, no,” Gale ground out.  He then stood agog as Katniss lifted her head up to kiss Pete Golightly. 

It wasn’t a long kiss. It was really a peck, but Gale could see that both parties enjoyed the kiss. Her hand was perched on his chest and his hand covered it while the other one cupped her chin. This guy was a smooth operator.  Gale’s head pounded as he saw red. 

Pete separated from Katniss and gave her a soft kiss on the forehead before he walked away to his car. Once he pulled out, Gale stood to his full height. 

“I thought you didn’t have time for that.” The words slipped out of his mouth before he could stop them.  He stomped over to her, his fists curling and uncurling. He was trying to keep his calm. 

Katniss turned around and gasped her eyes wide and silvery in the moonlight. “What the hell are you doing, Gale?” 

She had the look of a girl who was properly kissed and that drove Gale insane. “You chose that pasty faced wimp?”

Her face transformed into that steely scowl of hers. She walked around him. 

Gale followed. “I’m talking to you.”

She ignored him as she moved forward. 

When she reached the front door of the garage apartment she rented from his mother, he turned her around, leaning down toward her. “What, you don’t have anything to say?”

Katniss looked up at him and narrowed her eyes. “It’s none of your damned business.” 

Gale was going to say something to her when she opened the door to the apartment and quicker than a fox stealing eggs from a henhouse she slipped inside and shut the door in his face. 

Gale pounded on the side of the door. This wasn’t over. 

-80’s QUEEN

“Prim,” Katniss hollered through the bathroom door of the small studio apartment.

The apartment was basically a portion of Hazel Hawthorn's garage. There was no privacy except for the small airplane sized bathroom. She jiggled the bathroom doorknob. Prim was going to be late for the bus.

“Katniss!” Prim screeched from the other side.

She rolled her eyes at her baby sister's dramatic response. “You’re going to be late for school.”

The door opened and Prim stood there pouting, her blond hair a riot. Katniss did not dare gasp. Prim was a tween and Katniss knew how vicious kids could be at school. Instead she sighed, “Okay, what can I do to help?” 

“It’s 80’s day at school today and I need to look like that,” Prim pointed to the picture on her phone of Christie Brinkley. 

“We’re going to need a lot of hairspray and a brush,” Katniss rolled up the sleeves of her shirt.

“But I’m going to be late to school!” Prim cried.

Prim was twelve and at this age everything was a crisis. Katniss wasn’t as dramatic as Prim at that age, though she was moody. “Hey, I’ll give you a ride into school. It will be alright,” Katniss smiled over Prim’s head, their reflected images showed a united front. They were as different as night and day, but both girls had their dad’s smile and their mom’s button nose. 

"Thanks Katniss," Prim said in a small voice. She was almost a teenager, but still very much a little girl.

"Okay, let's rock this." Hair and makeup wasn’t her strong suit but Katniss had a crash course having to take guardianship of her baby sister at the age of eighteen. When their parents died, Katniss fought tooth and nail for her sister. She didn’t want Prim to go into the foster care system. She elected not to go to college and found a job. She sold their parents’ house, paid off the debts and made a home for herself and her then 10-year-old sister. 

It was a rough learning curve, but somehow Katniss made it work. 

Taking a brush, she quickly brushed and smoothed her sister's hair. She took a portion of Prim's beautiful wavy blond hair and put it in a side ponytail. The rest of her hair Katniss curled and teased into perfect 80's puffiness. Combined with her ripped jeans and oversized sweatshirt she borrowed, Prim was perfect to go back in time. 

They were rushing out of the house. Katniss started her beat up Camry and began to make her way down the mountain. The mountains of Panem’s District Twelve were a beautiful blue grey. A lot of the residents lived in the high hills because they were cooler than the valley below. It was private and no one got a house in the hills unless it was passed down by family inheritance or in her case, a rental by a friend of the family. The school was a good half-hour away from the entrance of the steep hill, but as they drove, the car began to shake as they made their way down a steep incline. 

Her palms were sweaty as she frantically pressed on the brakes as they made their way down to a small plateau. She pulled the heaving, trembling Camry to the side of the road.

“No, no, no,” she uttered as it began to smoke. Katniss sighed and hoped that it wasn’t something costly. “I’m going to take a look.”  She popped the hood. Getting out, she went to the hood and released the latch. She jumped back as a waft of billowy hot plume of smoke wafted from the engine. 

“Dagnabit,” Katniss muttered.

“Is it fixable?” Prim asked out of the window.

She grimaced before she looked toward where her sister sat in the car, at this rate Prim was never getting to school. Her knowledge on cars was limited. She knew how to change the oil, change a tire, and do the necessary upkeep for a car. However, it was the more complicated stuff like identifying which of the hoses that broke causing her car to overheat, was out of her scope. That would mean she’d have to deal with Gale, a mechanic by trade.

Gale was obsessive about her, something that Katniss hated. They were once friends until Gale stopped looking at her as a friend, but something to be possessed. He didn’t acknowledge they were too alike, in temperament and personalities. To Katniss it didn’t matter Greasy Sae said Gale was sex on a stick, she just didn’t like him like that.

Her appetite for men ran in a different direction. Sighing, she gave the car a bewildered look. The odds were not on her side. 

“Katniss, I'm going to miss school,” Prim said desperately from the window of the passenger seat.

Katniss felt bad. These were the times she felt guilty for not being a better sister / guardian to her sister. Prim was a good kid and deserved better. Looking down at her watch, time was running out.  Squaring her shoulders Katniss vowed she was going to get her sister to school. “Come on,” Katniss said, reaching down and grabbing Prim’s knapsack. “We’ll be late, but we can walk to school.”

“We can call Pete,” Prim said quietly.

Katniss couldn’t help the flush that crept up to her cheeks at the mention of their new hunky neighbor. Those darned butterflies began whizzing around her stomach. Katniss wanted to hush them or at least put them on a leash whenever Pete was around. 

Pete lived on the mountain with them. He was quiet, and he and her sister got along like chicken wings and buffalo sauce. Pete was the different her appetite was hungry for. Her mind replayed the soul stirring kiss they shared. They said a kiss was a window into a person’s heart, and if that kiss was an indication of what was in Peeta’s heart it was a three alarm fire that burned for her.

However, the kiss was something she wasn’t going to share with her twelve-year-old sister. Hell, that wasn’t something she wanted to even think about. “Prim.”

“Katniss,” her sister’s eyes glittered with mischief. The little imp knew what she was doing.

“I don’t need a man to come rescue us. We can walk to the school.”

“I know we don’t need a man, but we’re not even halfway down the mountain and I’m more than half-an-hour away from school. Pete is about two minutes away.”

Her sister’s logic was infallible, and Katniss knew it, but loathed to admit. “Fine, call Pete.”

-INCOGNITO 

Peeta drove exactly three minutes from his home to see the old dark Camry with the hazard lights on. His gut clenched when he saw the petite fiery woman with the olive skin tone, eyes the color of a raging storm, and cute pert nose. They were seeing each other, not in an official I’m dating you way, but definitely in the, there was something going on between them.

Peeta was used to women fawning all over him. Not Katniss, and he’d fallen for her harder than a sledgehammer hitting concrete. They’d kissed last night. Not a gentle peck on the lips, but the type of kiss that proved the earth was round, because your world shifted on its access. One moment you were standing on the floor and the next you were standing on the ceiling.

He’d been a star since the age of six months. A casting agent walked into his parents’ failing bakery and spotted him sitting in a high chair. The agent convinced his father to put him up for one of those national baby advertisements. Yet none of the accolades he received compared to winning a small smile from the woman standing on the side of the road.

“Hi,” Katniss said pushing her long rope of braided raven hair over her shoulder.   

“Hi,” Peeta said, climbing out of his truck. 

“Hi Pete,” Prim greeted, her eyes alight with joy.

“Hey, little duck.” Katniss' sister Primrose was as infectious as sunshine after a rainy day. She was the one person Peeta was sure Katniss would put her life down for. He had never seen that type of devotion and love before. In the industry he was in there wasn’t much room for any sort of relationship. Everything was colored by money.

His own mother was the poster girl for how money corrupts absolutely. When that casting agent walked into the family’s failing bakery his mother doubted he would get casted; she often said he was an ugly baby. His mother was wrong. Peeta won the contest. His round little face with his priceless blue eyes was soon appearing on every jar, can, and package of that brand of baby product. His mother got bit by the show biz bug, or rather the money that he made from it. She became his manager, and without anyone’s knowledge, took money from Peeta. As he became older and less easy to control his mother became abusive.

Peeta longed for a normal semblance of life. Despite not having two pennies to rub together, Katniss was raising Prim on her own and she was doing it all right. Not once did he hear Katniss lose her temper with her baby sister.

“Hi,” Katniss waved back, her face a deep shade of purple. She slipped her hands into the pocket of her pink diner waitress uniform Greasy Sae made Katniss wear. Her white sneakers shuffled back and forth.

Peeta got out and slipped his sunglasses off. He opened the cab door and held it for Prim and Katniss.

Katniss rolled her eyes at him.

They had this discussion before, about how he didn’t have to hold the door open for her. Peeta knew Katniss was more than capable of opening her own doors, but he was a romantic. He believed in Arthur and the Round Table and a knight’s code. His friend Finnick often told him he was born in the wrong era. He stood up when a lady walked into a room, held doors open, and walked little old ladies across the street.

“Seat belt,” Katniss reminded Prim who already had her earbuds in.

“K,” Prim replied.

“Oh, your lunch,” Katniss said, taking out a brown paper bag littered with glittery stickers from her brown leather messenger bag.

“Katniss, pink panda bears?” Prim huffed.

“I thought you liked them?”

“I do, but these stickers scream six-year-old kid.”

“Okay next time I’ll do a plain brown bag.” Katniss put on her seat belt.

Peeta caught the way Prim’s fingers went over the stickers with awe and reverence. Once more he couldn’t help loving the way the sisters were a unit.

For the whole of his life Peeta longed to be accepted and loved by his family. His older brothers were self-involved and didn’t give a flying fig newton about him; he was just their meal ticket. His mother was abusive and money hungry. His father was a simple man who couldn’t stand up to his wife.

His dad failed to protect Peeta.  

The lesson he learned growing up was that no one needed him. They needed his bank. That last stunt was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Peeta needed a way out and he found a way. His friend, mega star, Finnick Odair helped him get it. Starting over was worth breaking a few rules. He made a few withdrawals, put it in a new bank account and when the time was right, he left.

The trek to the small country of Panem that sat between the Canadian border and the United States border took less than 19 hours including a 90-minute ferry. Panem was a small island, with little islands scattered around it. District twelve was the smallest of the islands and had the smallest community. He chose this small island because it was so far removed from everything that reminded him of Hollywood.

He could have continued travelling but stopped when he met Prim and subsequently her older sister, Katniss. Peeta stayed far longer than what he wanted to because he was fascinated by Katniss.

Once they were on the road, Katniss kept on sneaking looks at him. It was when he caught her gaze going down to his mouth that he knew he was in danger, by the way he stiffened in his jeans. He looked back at Primrose in the seat and the pressing problem in his jeans shriveled.

“You okay?” 

“Yeah,” Katniss said, clearing her throat. She picked up her phone and called the school and her husky voice on the phone made him uncomfortable once more.

Peeta told himself to keep himself in check. Peeta wasn’t a lady’s man, but that didn’t mean he was a saint. However, he was the type who liked to be in a relationship. In his opinion, the best sex was had when he was emotionally connected with someone. When it was used just to blow off steam or to scratch an itch, he found it empty and meaningless, so he stayed clear of women who only promised that sort interaction.  By Hollywood standards, he was a virgin. Compared to him, Katniss was a unicorn.

He respected her and if she knew his thoughts she’d no doubt shoot him through the eye with her bow. To be fair, he was terrified of Katniss, especially when she was in what he called the ‘Hunter Mode.’ Her scowl combined with her glittering silver eyes promised pain and certain death to whomever was in her crossfire.

There were two things he learned not to mess with, one her sister Primrose, and the other was her personal business. Katniss was an extremely private person. Peeta sighed as they sped toward Prim’s school.

“Prim,” Katniss said. “I let the school know we’re on our way.”

“What about Greasy Sae?” Peeta asked.

“Greasy was the first person I called while Prim called you.”

They approached the school and there were a few stragglers, parents rushing to get their kids into the school building. Katniss jumped out of the car.

“Katniss, I'm not a baby. I can make it into school by myself,” Prim whined.

“Prim I have to sign you in, and that will continue straight up through high school.” Katniss' matter of fact tone of voice let Prim know this wasn’t the time for a pre-teen hissy fit.

“Fine,” Prim said quietly.

Peeta grinned. “I’ll wait here while you get her sorted.” 

Katniss nodded, a look flitted through her eyes. She had been avoiding him, and in a way he had been avoiding her as well. He knew the kiss was a dangerous thing and with everyday he stayed put, there was a chance he could be discovered.

He pulled his hat lower and slipped on his sunglasses. Even though he’d let his natural blond hair grow out, there was a chance people would recognize him, his eyes were legendary. The only thing he was grateful for was that his mother despised his blond locks. 

To the public at large, he had brown hair. For the majority of his career Peeta dyed his hair and eyebrows. He purposefully didn’t take movies where he had to be a blond. After his parents’ stunt, he had begun to let it grow out. Cinna, his stylist, helped him wear a wig whenever he needed to make a public appearance. 

It was easy to slip on some glasses and walk out of the hotel. About halfway through the interviews Peeta had his double sneak in, so that he could escape. No one could make out the difference, well no one but Haymitch. 

Peeta felt guilty for duping his manager and mentor. The wrap on the window pulled him out of his thoughts. Katniss stood on the other side, her eyes were staring at his hands. He didn’t realize the white-knuckle grip he had on the steering wheel. He felt the blush creeping up the side of his neck. Leaning over he quickly jumped out and opened the truck door for her.

“Pete,” Katniss mumbled under her breath.

“You’ve got your quirks, and this is one of mine.” He could see the beginning of a small smile on Katniss face and that right there was the reason he kept on coming back to see her. When she smiled it was better than Christmas, better than fresh baked cookies, and better than a greasy bacon double cheeseburger after a night out knocking back beers with Finnick.

He got into the car and drove out of the school parking lot.

“Look,” Katniss grimaced.

Peeta sucked in a breath. Here it came, the excuses passed off as rationalizations. Peeta dreaded the speeches that ranged from it was a mistake, we should forget that it happened, and his least favorite, it’s not you it’s me, I’m sorry I’m just not that into you.

“I don’t do that,” Katniss said. Her eyes were focused on her hands. 

Peeta sat back waiting patiently for Katniss to continue.

Her cheeks were tinged with a warm red color.  She wrinkled her nose and bit her bottom lip, all signs of her nervousness. Peeta found it endearing. 

“I don’t go around.” Her leg began shaking now. “...kissing, I don’t go around kissing...”

“I know.” He put his hand next to hers, but didn’t touch her. Yet, the nearness of their hands caused butterflies to make an appearance in his stomach. The connection between the two of them was electric. He hoped she felt the same way.  He saw her look turn from trepidatious to one of suspicion. He cleared his throat. “What I mean is you take care of your sister. She’s your whole life. You don’t have time for romantic entanglements.” 

Her eyes opened.    

“You have to worry about putting food on the table, a roof over your heads, plus everything that comes with raising a tween.” They came to a stop at a stoplight.

She blinked.

Peeta opened his mouth and shut it. He sighed and nodded; her actions proved refutably, his words were wrong. He didn’t hear her moving  across the cabin, or the way her hands braced his face before she kissed him.

Peeta’s heart exploded like a redstone rocket leaving the mission pad into the atmosphere. Her lips were warm and supple, and they tasted of ginger and mint. His hands gently cupped hers. 

Katniss pulled away. Her lips plump, her eyes were a dark stormy gray, from their kiss. She smiled at him shyly. “Thank you.”

“I think I should be thanking you.” The light turned green and he began driving. He couldn't hide the ear to ear grin.

Katniss raised an eyebrow and gave him a chaste kiss. “I like you Pete Golightly.”

Hearing his fake name sat like sour milk in his stomach. Peeta wanted to come clean to Katniss but didn’t know how. Katniss wasn’t anyone who trusted people easily, and she let him get close. He felt guilty for not being honest with her. But he held onto the idea that he was going to be leaving soon. He also told himself that the less people knew about his secret the easier it was for him to be able stay incognito.  

He gently let go of her hands and he missed her touch when she pulled away.  “I like you too, Katniss Everdeen.” 

“You want to come overnight,” Katniss asked.

“As long as you let me make you and Prim dinner.” 

She looked indecisive.

“Look, you’re going to be late picking up Prim tonight, and when you get to the apartment you’re going to focus on Prim and her homework while making dinner. Since today is Wednesday you do the laundry.” 

Wednesday is the most dratted day...it runs a close second to Sunday night. Katniss hated laundry. She hated the separating, the folding, the waiting well just about everything except for the smell of the fabric softener. She said it reminded her of a spring meadow on a warm day.

“Okay,” she said. Laughter bubbling up from her lips. “How do you know me so well?” 

Peeta winked slowly. “I always take notice when you’re in the room Katniss.” He enjoyed the blush that blossomed on her cheeks.

-THE CHASE

Less than two days later Claudius unfolded himself from his car. He pulled into the gas station near the border of Canada and Panem to fill up his tank. 

A young family got out of the rest stop right next to him. The girls got out and  were talking about Peeta. There was a billboard of the movie hanging right in front of them. Claudius followed them inside, he went to join the line, he had cash to pay for the gasoline. The girls queued up behind him.

“He’s so cute,” the young girl said, pointing to the tabloid with the picture of Peeta Mellark. The headline read he was taken by aliens. 

Claudius glanced behind him, and estimated the girl must have been sixteen.

The other one who looked to be fourteen said, “He’s so yummy. Too bad mommy wont let us see his movie.”

“I know,” the sixteen year-old grumbled.

“Do you think his parents had something to do with his disappearance?”

“I don’t know,” the older sister said. 

Claudius reached the front of the line and paid forty for gas. He walked outside into the sunlight. It had been a long ride from the junket to this small town. He had to stop halfway there and rent a hotel room for the night. After a complimentary stale pastry and tepid tea for breakfast, he was back out on the road. He was finally just outside the small town.

He walked toward his car and began to pump gas.  The girls came out of the small convenience store and sat down in the small shaded picnic area next to the gas stop.

A young boy about their age walked by them and they were giggling and laughing. 

“Girls,” their mother called out. “We’re leaving.”

“Okay mom,” the girls yelled out in unison. As they stood up from the shaded area. They looked up at the billboard. And continued to speak about Peeta Mellrak. 

Claudius smirked at the girl's conversation. The actions of the young star were a mystery to Claudius and to the entire world. 

Why leave all of the money and power behind, Claudius wondered? That question is what drew him to the story, he’d discovered. The kid was clean, didn’t do drugs, didn’t drink, he wasn’t broke.  The kid had millions in the bank. 

In his last movie, Peeta, was involved in the producing, directing, and script writing. The success of the movie had everyone clamorning to work with him. The kid was on the cusp, he had the ability to make more money and have the kind of power to make his own movies. They billed him as the next Ron Howard. Why would the kid throw all of that way? No one was that crazy. Claudius knew of one person who left it all behind at the height of their career, Dolores Hart. Dolores starred opposite Elvis Presley, and some of Hollywood's top male actors of the time. She left Hollywood to become a nun.

Claudius wondered if Mrs. Mellark had anything to do with Peeta Mellark’s Agatha Christie stunt. The Mellarks were a mess. The kind that were a paparazzi present wrapped up tightly with bright ribbon under the Christmas tree. His older brothers were sleeze balls. His oldest brother was in hot water for making several statements that were deeply offensive to a number of people. The middle Mellark was a mainstay in Vegas. He was a gambler and rumored to have connections with the mafia. He was seen with the daughter of notorious mobster Seneca Crane. 

His mother, she was a joy, a really Betty Croker, complete with shark teeth. The woman sold her son’s privacy for 100 grand. The reporters entered his house and took detailed pictures of his home. The best was his color coordinated underwear draw. Everyone knew he was a boxer brief guy. His father was a patsy, with the personality of a limp wet towel. 

Claudius wondered if they were the reason he left Hollywood? But then again, Peeta had nothing to do with his family. They lived separate lives. Peeta didn’t even have pictures of his family in his house. Only gorgeous paintings that were discovered to have been painted by Peeta himself. If his family was the reason, it didn’t matter to Claudius. He wanted to be the first to find Peeta Mellark.

It’s why he was in the border town looking for Judy’s friend Morph.  

-NIGHT IN

Katniss watched Peeta with her sister. Her heart raced a thousand miles an hour, a common occurrence whenever he was around. He was washing the dishes with her sister as she folded laundry. 

Prim introduced them, and Katniss hadn’t wanted to be his friend. She didn’t want to be with anyone. She had to raise Prim. Her sister took the priority in her life and few people understood the pressure that came with being so young and raising a child. She was still only twenty, and they were visited by a fastidious case worker Effie Trinket whose sharp eyes never missed a thing. If there was speck of dust on a lampshade Miss Trinket would spot it.

It’s why she stayed away from men. They complicated her simple drive to protect and provide for her sister. Pete however never imposed his person on hers. He never demanded that she pay attention to him. Instead he slowly and politely became her friend. She hadn’t wanted to face him after the kiss, but after fate brought them together, and she spoke to him in the car she couldn’t help but kiss him again. 

That second kiss caused Katniss to realize maybe she was ready for more with Pete. He was kind, gentle, intelligent, witty, funny, and sexy. The last word caused her to blush, because she chose that moment to stare at him. As if sensing her stare, he looked up and his eyes darkened. His gaze dropped down to her lips before they moved up once again. 

He was thinking of their kiss and Katniss squirmed in her seat. 

Prim said something funny and he laughed. 

“That’s just as bad as Gale making a pass at my sister.” 

“No way?” Pete said gazing at Katniss.

He was curious about Gale. Katniss told him she didn’t have any romantic feelings about Gale. 

“Way,” Prim said. “Gale thinks Katniss should date him because he’s so,” she said holding up her fingers in the air to make quotations. “...great.”

Pete didn’t say anything. 

“They were friends and then my parents died. Gale expected my sister to fall at his feet. He kept on coming to the house to try to help, to make it known Katniss was his girl.” Prim’s face soured like that time she drank bad milk. 

They never spoke about that time after their parents died. Katniss preferred to move forward.

 “After the funeral he tried to make his move.”

“After the funeral, you mean the day you were…”

Katniss stopped folding the clothing. She had no idea Prim had overheard. She thought her sister was in their old home.

“Can you believe it!” Prim shook her head. “I was in the tree house hiding. I saw him grab my sister by the shoulder and try to kiss her, but Katniss pushed him away. She told him she wouldn’t have time for him, because she needed to petition the courts for me. Gale told her that raising me was a mistake. My sister kicked him in the nuts.”

“Did she?” Pete asked, his eyebrow quirked. Katniss could see his admiration, not for kicking Gale in the nuts as Prim said, but for sticking to her guns to take care of her sister.

Prim giggled, “He never saw it coming.” 

“So how did you guys end up living in their garage?”

“Katniss had to sell our house to pay for the bills and for the lawyers and court fees.”

Katniss stood up and sighed. “Gale’s mother is the real estate agent that helped me sell our house. She offered the garage as a way for her to make extra money after her divorce from Gale’s dad.” Katniss shrugged,  “She needed the extra income, and I needed a place to live. It was a mutual agreement.” 

"Katniss worked really hard to make the garage homey."

Katniss watched Pete look around the apartment as if he’d never really taken a good look. His focus was always on Prim or herself. To be fair he wasn’t someone who took notice of the disparity they lived in. Gale constantly offered to fix things for her, including her person. It was like that perfect backhanded compliment. You look nice in a dress, you should wear one more often, or the one that always made her see red. Your face is pretty when you smile and wear makeup. 

Katniss wanted to hurt Gale every single time he said something stupid and asinine. 

Gale’s harsh words didn’t extend only to her person, they also extended to the apartment. Gale made her feel insecure about her flea bargain finds, dollar store buys, and hand-me-down furniture. He thought the colors dull, and her paint job was poor, but never offered to help paint. 

Katniss could see all of the gaff’s she made painting. Katniss decorated their small home with calm earth tones, wanting it to convey peacefulness, warmth and be inviting. When they moved here Prim was ten and Katniss wanted to make sure her sister felt like everything was going to be alright. 

The studio was small with a loft. Katniss gave her sister the loft so that she could have privacy. Prim was growing up and Katniss understood the need for space. Katniss went through those awkward years with their parents, their door was always open. It’s why she made a bedroom for herself in the nook below the loft.  Katniss used shutters for a wall near the entrance and creatively used a tension rod between two bookshelves to make an entry to her makeshift bedroom.

Yet in Pete’s warm blue eyes she saw what could be considered admiration. 

“You are amazing,” Pete said simply.

Katniss could feel the onslaught of warmth that rushed from her heart to her cheeks, because unlike Gale’s thinly veiled insults which hailed from a vain superficial perspective. Gale could only see beyond his own needs whereas Pete's hailed from deep within. 

“Yes she is and she needs someone just as amazing,” Prim piped up, and Katniss was mortified. What came out of Prim’s mouth next however made Katniss want to bury her head in the sand. “Someone like you, Pete!”

Katniss thought she wanted to strangle her sister, but her feet were rooted to the floor. She glanced up and found herself staring at Pete’s lips. She wanted to be alone with him and kiss him once more but she couldn’t do anything in front of her sister. 

“Prim I think you sister is more than capable of making her own decisions about who she wants to date.” 

Pete’s words were commendable, and given the way his blue eyes looked darker and the fact that his eyes were gazing at her lip was a clear indication that Pete was thinking of the same thing, that kiss. 

“You two are perfect for each other.” Prim’s gaze switched between Katniss and Peeta’s. “I am going up to my loft, put my noise cancelling headphones on and listen to my favorite K-Pop band really loudly in case you two want to kiss,” Prim wiggled her eyebrows with all of the mischievous and impish power she held. 

“PRIM!!” Katniss gasped.

Prim’s peal of laughter exploded in the apartment as she ran up her loft ladder. 

If Pete hadn’t been standing next to her she would have chased her sister.  She turned slightly to Pete who stood with his hands in his pockets. 

“I,” Katniss uttered, unsure what to say.  The mood was ruined by her impish sister.

“Katniss, we can just hang out,” Pete suggested. “Maybe watch a movie? Or even fold laundry.”

Katniss wanted  to roll her eyes at his suggestion to fold laundry.

“You doubt my folding abilities? I will have you know I know the secret of folding a fitted sheet, it’s a family secret but I may have to kill you unless you’re willing to die for it," Pete said wiggling his eyebrows.

"You know I am an excellent archer." Katniss narrowed her eyes in mock anger.

His instant grin and mischievous glint in his blue eyes caused a small fire to begin in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t explain the butterflies that sprung in her stomach whenever she was near him. Or the way she couldn’t stop staring at his nearly translucent eyelashes. She swallowed thickly as she stared at his lips and recalled how sweet he tasted, and the insane need, no scratch that, desire to walk up to him and kiss him. 

“Oh hell,” Katniss breathed before she walked up to Pete and kissed him hard. Her hands reached up to cup his face while standing on tiptoe. She groaned the moment his arms wound around her, bringing her closer to him. Warmth spread from the deepest part of her chest and spread throughout her body. 

The kiss wasn’t forceful, but man did it do things to her insides. Katniss disengaged and took him by the hand, dragging him to her makeshift bedroom. 

“Katniss,” Pete raggedly uttered her name.

Katniss wasn’t even sure if what she was doing was correct. She didn’t have much, okay, in reality she knew zilch, zero, a big old donut hole about intimacy. The laws of attraction didn’t lend themselves to her until the day Pete Golightly came into her life.

She sat on the bed and scooted backward, trying to convey silently for Pete to come to her. Katniss wasn’t sure where this coquettish side to her came from. But Pete did things to her that made her want everything.

Her eyes scanned him as he stood by the foot of the bed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. If this were Gale he would have been the aggressor and that would have been like being thrown into a frozen lake in the middle of winter.  It’s not that Pete couldn’t be aggressive, he was massive.  His hands were warm and large, he was broad shouldered, strong, and taller than she was. Pete could probably bench press her caveman style, but he was sweet and polite, and  that drove Katniss wild.

She sat up on the bed and crooked her finger at him. 

Swiftly Peeta moved, coming to lay on top of her. She felt the moment he melted into her and she reveled in the power. They both gasped and moaned at the sensation of their bodies being pressed into one another. 

Katniss tilted her head slightly to kiss him and little currents of pleasure flowed from her mouth to her belly and  further south. Her hands grasped his face so that she could do something she’d heard about, kissing with tongue. It should have felt weird to have her tongue in his mouth. She instinctively sought entrance to his mouth and Pete gasped then angled his head and slowly opened his mouth for her. Her toes curled the moment his tongue greeted hers. Kissing was phenomenal, her new found favorite sport. Yes, it trumped archery. 

Her hands released his face and began to roam as they kissed. Katniss had a sneaky suspicion that Pete was some sort of athlete because his chest was firm. Her hand snaked under his shirt and she felt the ridges of his abdomen. Pete moaned and pulled away, his blue eyes wide. He looked dazed, a flush spread up to his cheeks.

She wasn't the type of girl who noticed that a guy was hot. Not that she was blind. Even though she didn’t like Gale. Katniss could admit to herself Gale wasn't an ogre. He was actually good-looking in that tall, dark and too handsome for his own good sort of way. She was just not attracted to him. She was one hundred percent attracted to Pete. And at this moment, all the naughty things she never thought of, never thought she would ever want to do, and had no time for, were rushing through her mind like one of those poorly written super trashy novella's Delly was so fond of reading. 

Katniss wanted the shirt to come off, she wanted for it all to come off, she wanted him naked. The word naked should have terrorized her, but in actuality it didn’t. She sat up and tugged up on his shirt. Pete pushed her hands down.

“Katniss we can’t.” Pete sounded like he had run up the steep hill carrying one of those 100lb crates of potatoes Greasy Sae had delivered to the restaurant. He sat back on his haunches. His eyes traveled over her and he shook his head. Katniss sorley wished she knew how to seduce. 

"Katniss," he said before he grimaced.

She frowned. 

“Your sister,” Pete said pointing up at the loft above. 

She’d forgotten about her impressionable baby sister. “Dagnabit!”

Pete smiled gently.

“I hate adulting.” 

“We all have to be adults.” 

She fell backwards onto her pillow, frustrated. Selfishly she did not want to stop. Realistically Pete was correct. Prim was a scant few feet away. She couldn't act like a typical 20-year-old. She had to be smarter, which is why she tucked all of those awakened me-want-sexy-time thoughts into a corner of her brain. A place where boring things resided, like matching clean socks, cleaning the oven, or pumping gas.

"Talk to me." Pete laid down next to her, not touching her, but just looking at her. It was comfortable, it was nice and yet those butterflies were acting like they were banging spoons and pots in her stomach. 

Talking was not her thing. As her court appointed family psychologist said, she was introverted, thoughtful and not someone who could eloquently speak unless pressured. This was partly because talking could lead to trouble. Katniss always reminded herself that until her sister turned eighteen, she had to be careful.

“You’re right,” Katniss sighed. “I can’t get carried away.”

“Believe me, it’s not easy walking away, but I get that you’re not ready for some things.” 

“You do something to me,” Katniss blurted. “There are these butterflies I get in my stomach whenever you’re around.”  She then realized how childish that sounded, she was twenty and not a thirteen year old girl.

He laughed. 

Yep Katniss thought, Pete thought her crazy.

“I get butterflies in my stomach whenever I am around you too.” 

“You do?” she was surprised.

“I do. You’re the sweetest most beautiful, bravest woman I have ever met. You are amazing.”

“I don’t know how to take that?” She was awestruck. She didn’t consider herself any of those things. Especially beautiful. She was not beautiful.

“Slowly like breathing. Let the words penetrate your heart slowly.”

Katniss nodded. “I just, I’ve never been with anyone. I don’t have the least idea about what or how I am supposed to act.”

“To be honest there isn’t one way to act; you just be yourself. If you’re not comfortable with something you tell me no or stop. Just like I pulled away and you respected my decision to pull away. I know this sounds like a cheesy movie line, but I like you, Katniss, I like you a lot. You are, and I keep saying this word, amazing, because I’m in awe of you.”

Words shouldn’t be that powerful but the way Pete wielded them caused her to want to rip his shirt and pans off and do stuff. What stuff she wasn’t sure, but stuff that people did in bed. She closed her eyes briefly and wondered what happened to the girl who a few weeks ago was grossed out at seeing two people make out in public. 

 He smiled and his blue eyes glowed. “I think you did a great job decorating too.”

“Now I know you’re crazy.”

“Given what you had to work with, you did amazing. Besides I’ve seen Prim’s loft…” Peeta grinned, the loft was a riot of baby blue, pinks, and purples. “Believe me you did a great job, even with your sister's space. Just enough chaos but enough organization to help a budding genius.”

“Oh no, she’s got you watching Pinky and the Brain?”

“Zoik!”

“Ugh,” Katniss said.

“What? I’m not a Brain, I’m more of a Pinky. Prim is the Brain.”

“Sometimes I am afraid about how smart Prim really is.” Katniss sighed. “Do you know she knew her periodic table before she turned three? She can spout all of the weights of the elements and is in advanced calculus and physics in school. I’ve asked her if she wanted to move on, you know, to a higher grade, but she said no because she wanted to grow up normal.” Katniss sighed. “She’s had so much disruption in her life. I just want her to have as typical a childhood as possible.”

Pete leaned in and kissed her soundly. Katniss sighed. 

He leaned away. “I would like to take you out on a date.”

“When?” She scooted closer to him.

“What about Friday?” He scooted closer to her.

“S’okay.”  She moved closer, so close she could see the pale specks in his blue eyes.

“Cool.” He gently enfolded her in his arms. 

She’d never been held before, and it was better than ice cream on a warm July evening.

-THE SCENT

It took Claudius the entire day to track down Morph. Even with a stupid name, no one in this forsaken side of town knew the scrawny strung out kid. He went to every single gas station and no one could identify him. 

Claudius was frustrated. Viciously glad the only thing he wasted was chump change. He was going to pack it up when he came upon a run down gas station near the border. It was a sad place. The kind of place people were murdered or bodies appeared. With a broken lamp and one gasoline pump because the other one had a white paper taped to it with the words ‘out of service’ hastily scribbled on it.

Claudius went inside and was struck dumbfounded when there sitting behind a laminated counter sat Morph.

“Morph,” Claudius said.

“Yeah.”

“Judy sent me.”

“Oh, yeah,” Morph nodded. His eyes looked unfocused and even in the dim light of the interior his irises were fully dilated.

Crap, Claudius thought, the idiot is high.

“Judy,” Morph said grinning.

“Do you remember why Judy sent me here?” Claudius wondered if this was going to be another dead end.

“Yeah.”

“And.” 

“Oh.” Morph waited a moment. “Yeah.”

Claudius would rather get shot during a root canal.  “Look kid, have you seen him,” Claudius took the tabloid from off the wrack and pointed to Peeta.

Morph blinked. “He was here, he paid for gas, cash.”

“He did?” 

Morph held out his phone screen to Claudius. The thrill of the chase running through his veins. He showed him the picture of Peeta’s side profile. He was wearing the same baseball cap and sunglasses he wore in Judy’s picture. Morph then pulled his phone back and stared blankly.

“Can you tell me what direction he took?”

Morph turned his head. “Yeah.”

“Well.”

“He headed toward Panem.” 

“Panem?” Claudius was struck. “Are you sure he didn’t head toward Canada?”

Morph took out his phone and swiped. 

There on the screen was a picture of Peeta’s car with the license plate heading toward the Panem border. Claudius took the idiots phone and sent himself the pictures. He slapped a 20 on the laminate counter. 

Claudius pumped his gas but mentally he chanted, “Gotcha.”

 -CONSPIRATORS

“Good morning,” Prim said from over her bowl of cornflakes.

Pete grinned. The time on the microwave read 5AM. Rubbing the back of his head, he said, “Morning Prim.”  He and Katniss fell asleep in her room. He hadn’t woken up until this moment. Katniss was still sleeping. 

“So you and my sister,” Prim wiggled her eyebrows.

“Prim.” 

She grinned then made little kissy faces.  

“First, you are too young to think that way. Secondly, I respect your sister far too much…well, to push her into something she is not ready for.”  

“Please, there’s no need for an explanation. I know you guys didn’t do anything. I came downstairs around eleven and both of you were snoring. You, by the way, drooled on her pillow.”

Peeta rubbed his face. He had a sinking suspicion Prim was going to hold this over him. 

Prim smiled but as she continued slurping her milk.  

“Your sister,” Peeta said, sighing. “I really…I...like her alot, more than a lot actually.”

“Listen Peeta,” Prim said. “You make my sister happy and she makes you happy.”

“Prim,” Peeta hushed Prim. “You can’t use my real name.”

Prim rolled her eyes. 

She was the only one who had figured out who he was within seconds of meeting him. She waited until they were alone and then she began to grill him like a well done steak. He had been going to Sae’s diner for one of her infamous soups, but he also liked to watch Katniss. She was graceful. The way she walked around people without making sound or spilling drinks or bowls. He had been trying to gather the courage to speak to her. 

One day Prim showed up and his entire ruse was over. 

Katniss wasn’t the only Everdeen to be protective. Prim was like a mama bear around Katniss.  Her attitude toward her older caused Peeta to have a deep appreciation for Katniss. That she sacrificed so much for her sister was humbling. Peeta wished he could use all of his money and connections to help out the sisters. 

However as he got to know both of them, he knew neither sister would take money from him. These two were fighters, they were a team. When Prim figured out he wasn’t playing with her sister’s heart, she was a mini bulldozer pushing them together. Prim was, as Katniss stated, frighteningly intelligent.  

“You mean Peeta?” Prim said it louder.

“Prim, keep it down.” 

“My sister sleeps like the dead. And you owe me cheese buns.”

Peeta sighed. He’d forgotten the bet, which Prim won. Last night they did end up making out. He couldn’t help the buzzing in his body at the memory of the way Katniss silver eyes turned like liquid mercury when she was aroused. “Okay, we’ll have to go over to my place.”

“Why?” Katniss walked into the kitchen, her hair askew. Her sleepy face was adorable. 

Peeta walked to her and planted a sweet kiss on her lips. “Good morning. I’m making cheese buns.”

“Why?” Katniss yawned.

“Because, you should never make a bet against an Everdeen.” Prim winked. “I’m going to grab my clothing and stuff. I’ll pack something for Katniss too.”

Katniss frowned, watching her sister walk toward the loft. 

Peeta couldn’t help himself. He cupped her face and properly kissed Katniss. She hummed, groaned and moaned all at once. 

She gazed up at him with awe and with the embers of desire. “I lost a bet to Primrose, and now I owe her cheese bun.”

“She shouldn’t be doing that, but your buns are well worth it.”

“You like my buns?” Peeta hoped she meant something else entirely.

Katniss slipped her hand around to his butt and squeezed him briefly before sassily winking at him. “Yup I just love your buns.” 

Peeta laughed. And kissed her swiftly, feeling like he had come home.

-THE OUTRAGE

Gale wanted to rip the backyard tree from it’s trunk when he woke up to see Pete coming out of the apartment early this morning.  They were laughing and holding hands. 

Hi misery could only be accompanied by the rage he felt. 

Katniss was supposed to his girl. 

Gale closed his eyes momentarily as pain shot through him. He opened them to see the lovers wrapped up in each other. What hurt the most was that, this wasn’t sex, they weren’t fucking for fun. The way they held one another as they kissed, denoted tenderness, deep care, gentleness, and soft yielding toward the other. 

Gale tore his eyes away. He loathed Pete Golightly for taking the one girl he thought belonged to him. The one girl he wanted. 

Katniss might never be his, but he was never going to accept them as a couple. 

-THE HUNT

Peeta Mellark was smart, but Claudius was smarter. With the plates he was able to trace the car.  Peeta had turned his car into this obscure car rental in Panem’s Capitol. While he couldn’t confirm that Peeta rented a car, he showed the girl the picture from Morph’s phone. It was imperative he got that first picture of Peeta Mellark. It was now worth nearly 300 Grand. And Claudius wanted to sit on a throne made of money.

“Yeah, I’m trying to trace down my nephew. My brother had a heart attack and my nephew he’s on one of those retreats you go wireless.”

The perky blonde’s eyes widened. "Oh my goodness, are you alright?”

Bingo! Claudius said to himself. People were inherently good, well unless you were a bastard like him, but in reality they wanted to be helpful and that’s where he, the bastard, preyed upon them. “I am okay, my brother,” he added enough emphasis on the word brother to allude that he was mortally grave. “I just hope to find my nephew before…” He trailed off.

“Oh, I can’t give you information, because it’s private.”

Claudius grinned, “Yeah, of course,” he said pumping something close to sincerity in voice. “Could you tell me if someone has seen him if I describe my nephew to you?”

“Sure I can totally do that.” 

“Great, you have no idea how much this means to me.” 

-THE CONFRONTATION

Gale walked into Greasy Sae’s. He found Katniss briskly walking between tables, serving coffee.

He sat in her section, at the counter and waited patiently as the crowd thinned and she came behind the counter.

“Gale,” Katniss said, her lips were thinned into a tight smile. “What can I get for you today?”

“Coffee,” Gale’s eyes slid down her form. He recalled what she looked like in a pair of shorts and a tank top. She had a slight build, small breast and a small ass too. He thought before that outfit she had a boy's body, but he was wrong.  That was the summer before her parents died. “And you.”

Katniss plopped the coffee saucer on the table and then said, “I’m not on the menu.”

“Well you’re sure on Golightly’s menu.”

Her eyes widened before she narrowed them. “That’s none of your damned business.”

“What? That you’ve been whoring yourself to him?”  He reached out and snagged her wrist.

“Let go of me.” she tugged.

He tightened his grip, now that he had her, Gale couldn’t let go. He was fascinated by the silvery color of her eyes, the way her pert nose wrinkled. Once again, he thought she wasn’t beautiful, hell, she wasn’t even pretty, but there was this pull about her. One he could not let go, even though she was with that man.

“You’re hurting me,” Katniss whispered struggling.

“Gale Hawthorne,” Delly Cartwright said, slapping him upside the head.

Gale blinked and released his hold on Katniss. He frowned looking at the fat cow Cartwright.

“You let her go or I will call my cousin to arrest you for manhandling.” Delly’s voice was high and squeaky.

He realized everyone was looking at him. Embarrassed he pushed back his hat and said, “I don’t want anything from the likes of her.”

Katniss held her wrist protectively. Her eyes were a glittery silver. Her scowl was in place and he knew that if she had her bow she wouldn’t hesitate to use it.

“You okay?” Delly asked Katniss.

Gale scoffed looking at Katniss's wrist. “She’s not even bruised.”

“Get,” Delly said.

Gale saw that a few of the other residents stood up, their demeanor letting him know that they were backing the girls.

“I’ll be back.”

“No you won’t, I’m going to tell Greasy, and when she hears about this you’ll be banned,” Delly put her finger at the center of his chest.

Gale left, but he swore Katniss was going to pay for embarrassing him.

-THE DATE

Katniss was nervous. She looked at her wrist, glad she didn’t have a bruise after Gale manhandled her at work yesterday. She sighed and put the incident behind her. She wanted to focus on her date tonight with Peeta. Twirling to the side she fretted about the dress, was it too short, was it too revealing? She wasn’t sure about the color. 

“You’ve got to relax, Katniss.”

Katniss swung around to face her sister. “You’ve got everything?”

“Yeah,” Prim said, rolling her eyes.

“Prim,” Katniss forgot to worry about her date with the worry about her baby sister.

“Katniss,” Prim grabbed her cheeks between her hands. “I AM GOING TO BE FINE!”

Katniss frowned. It was a night of firsts. She was going on a date with Pete, and her sister was going to her first slumber party with her friend Ginnee at the new girl Coral’s house. Katniss had met Coral’s parents yesterday when Prim came home with the coveted birthday party invite. Coral’s parents were from District Four and they thought a slumber party would help Coral make new friends at her new school.

Katniss thought Coral was okay, it was Ginnee, she didn’t trust. Ginnee had older sisters and brothers. She was astute and as slippery as a snake. Katniss frankly did not trust the intrepid twelve year old girl who would soon turn thirteen. “If anything even remotely happens or you feel uncomfortable you will…” Prim gave her a look that caused Katniss to amend her choice of words. “…can call me.”

“I will.”

There was a horn outside.

“Stop grimacing. It’s just Ginnee.”

“Ginnee,” Katniss muttered under her breath. “Just be careful, and have a good time.”

Prim grinned before she slipped her backpack on her back and sprinted out toward the waiting car. 

Katniss stood outside looking like the proverbial mother hen with one arm wrapped around her middle the other lifted in a half-hearted wave. She couldn’t stop her sister from growing up.

As she stood there, Pete’s car pulled up. He came out wearing a nice dark blazer, white crisp shirt, and khakis. He clutched in his hands a bouquet of wildflowers. Where and when he got them she didn’t know. All she could think about was the shy yet sizzling smile Pete sent her way. And the breath she held when Prim left wooshed out of her.

“Hi,” she croaked.

“You look great,” he gushed.

Katniss looked down at the orange wrap dress Prim demanded Katniss splurge on and buy for tonight. “Thanks. You look nice.”

He grinned at her and that was how her control snapped. She stepped up to him and kissed him wildly. She moaned when his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close to him. She was correct; kissing Pete was better than the thirty-one ice cream flavors Baskin Robbins boasted. “Oh Pete…”

Pete pulled back and sighed. “If we don’t get out of here now, I am going to carry over my shoulder and bring you inside, Katniss.”

Katniss raised an eyebrow, feeling emboldened and brazenly she said, “That wouldn’t be a bad thing.”

Pete groaned.

“But,” Katniss said, liking how her words affected him. She wickedly said, “I suppose if you want to spoil me for a nice meal, before I plunder you later on…”

“Do you not understand I am trying to be a gentleman?” His eyes were wide and wild.

Katniss wanted to sound coquettish, but she ended up telling him the truth in a rushed tortured tone of voice. “You’re not the only one holding on to restraint.”

Katniss watched the bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallowed. “I am trying to think of everything that is disgusting and unappealing to make me come down back to earth and continue with dinner.”

“You are?”

“Katniss my brain short circuits any time you’re near, and when you kiss me I can’t even function. I have to literally sing the twelve days of Christmas in my head to calm down.”

“The twelve days of Christmas?” She couldn’t help the way a smile formed on her face.

“I have to keep on telling myself that you’re not ready, that this is moving way to fast-“

She didn’t let him finish. “What if I am ready to be with you?” It was impulsive and she was not sorry she said the truth.

“Are you sure?” He looked scared, almost reverent.

“I am, but if you’re not ready, then I’ll wait,” she said into his lips because he kissed her fiercely and such intensity that she was left breathless.

“Food,” he muttered when he pulled away. “Need food to keep up.”

He took her hand and tugged her along. The dinner that followed was uncomfortable in that they both wanted to go home and tear each other’s clothing off. Katniss couldn’t recall what she chose or what he ordered. The only thing she wanted wasn’t on the menu. 

When they got to her apartment the thin wall of restraint broke and they were kissing wildly.

“Slow, must go slow,” Pete said as he struggled with pulling off his shirt without unbuttoning it.

Katniss chuckled at his eagerness. A smooth operator Pete was not, but she didn’t mind. She slowed him down by putting her hand on his chest and tugging his shirt down. Quietly she undid the buttons. His breath was labored while hers was calm. She was more than turned on, her underwear were ruined, to be fair, and her nipples stood at attention in her bra. She was the inexperienced one, but at that moment, Pete was the one with jumbled nerves and that made her feel excited, yet calm.

His eyes darkened when she removed his shirt and her hands slid up his chest. Her heart was a riot inside of her chest. Her blood pressure, no doubt, through the roof. Her mouth watered at the sight of his abs. She understood why when women said six-pack they went haywire. On impulse she kissed his chest and licked his pec and Pete roughly called her name.

“Off,” she said, tugging his pants.

Pete's hands flew to his pants and her eyes were riveted to his hands as the zipper came down. Katniss shivered now she began to pant. Her mouth opened and her eyes widened at the sight of him. “OH,” she said. Her hands reached out to touch him, but she glanced up to see if this was alright.

Pete tersely nodded.

Her hand wrapped around him and she sighed along with his groan. He was long and thick, and his tip wept with pre-cum.

“Katniss, I want to see you,” Pete’s voice sounded low and dangerous and she shivered.

Katniss leveled a look at him as she placed her hand on the ties of her wrap dress. He placed his hand on top of hers.

“May I?”

“Okay,” she gasped, dropping her hands. She was by this point unable to talk. The anticipation was getting to her.

Pete’s eyes were hooded and dark as his hands tugged on the knot at the front of her dress. “I’ve been thinking about this all evening.”

Her dress slid open and it slid off her skin smoothly like chocolate melting in one’s mouth.

Pete made a strangled cry at the sight of her. Emboldened by his reaction she reached behind her back and unclipped her bra, letting the straps fall slowly revealing her breasts to him. His hands trembled when he reached out to touch her, but he sought her permission. 

“May I,” his voice sounded hoarse.

She nodded, but he just stood there staring at her. Unwilling to wait anymore she took his hand and slid it to her waiting breast. His touch sent her over the edge and her head snapped back and she moaned his name.

His free hand brought her closer and the press of flesh to flesh was an explosion more powerful than any force of nature. Their mouths met greedily, wildly, taking, giving, needing, and raising the temperature between them. She was a blaze for him and he was ablaze for her. He picked her up and mouths still fused, her fingers in his soft wavy hair. She pulled and played with the strands as they somehow landed on her bed. His mouth disengaged from hers once they were laying on the bed him on top looking down at her wantonly.

His lips began a decent down, his tongue tasting, lapping, tracking a path downward leaving her to be a wriggling mess. She called his name fervently as a tight coil wound deep within her womb. He paused at the juncture of her thighs. She could feel his hot breath on her inner thigh. When his fingers brushed along her soaked panties, she jumped.

“I want to taste you,” he said. His eyes flickered from her face to the crotch of her panties.

Katniss fisted her hands into the sheets. She’d accidently read about this in one of Delly’s books. She’d picked it up one day curious as to why Delly found them so appealing. What she read shocked her men kissing a woman between their legs sounded unsanitary. But right now, in this moment, with the way Pete was looking at her as if she was the most delicious plate of food it was the one thing she wanted. “Please,” she gasped.

Pete inched her panties down as if he was unwrapping a present and Katniss was relieved when her underwear were off and lay bare with her legs spread before him. He looked predatorial and yet worshipful. His hands slid up her thighs and a thousand points of electric pleasure raced to her core. And when she kissed her there, and she felt his tongue taste her and she yelled and thrashed wildly, her body shaking as he tasted her.

“Perfect,” he muttered, “delicious,” were words he repeated when he gasped for air.

Katniss didn’t care as she felt herself burn brighter and brighter, the coiling sensation whirled within her until her skin burned and she combusted with a loud sound and moisture seeped out of her.

She was barely back to herself before Pete began his onslaught again. This time, adding a finger, then another and like a dam, she burst over and over until she was a raw nerve, quaking needing more, desiring him to fill her empty spaces. The ones in her heart, mind, soul and body.

She called out his name, pulling him up to her so she could kiss him. His hands touched her and explored her body as they rolled around in the bed. Her hands also drifted over him. Her short nails scraping over his body, soft but hard, brushing over the hair that traveled down his belly button, downward to his cock. She grasped him, but Pete pulled away.

“I want you,” she growled.

His grin was instant. Then he said, “condom…”

Katniss was frustrated when he pulled away to find the offensive item that took Pete away from her. She was bereft without his warmth, and his heavenly body.  

When he returned back to her his eyes focused on her body. With fire she opened her legs, an open invitation.

“Fuck,” Pete said. His hand ran through his hair, and once more his lips descended upon her center until she was screaming his name. And when he crawled up pinning her to the bed she was a disarray of sensations primed and ready. With gentleness he lined them up before his body dipped into hers. Tears slipped from her eyes as she felt cherished, wanted, and loved.

His eyes conveyed that and more as she was split open and her mind flashed to the first moment she saw him come into the diner. The way he looked lost and bewildered when he first set eyes on her. The way his hands shook after their first kiss.

“Katniss are you alright?”

Katniss was sure, “Yes.”

“I’m not hurting you?” he gasped as she flexed muscles she didn’t know she had.

She shook her head. And with that he began moving within her and stole her breath away. Being with Pete was more than a treat, it was life altering, soul shaking. He was trying to make her feel good and there were a few times she felt the stirring, but her body was too raw and frayed to really be engaged.

“Katniss,” he panted, “you’re not with me.”

“It’s okay, let go,” she urged.

“But..” he groaned.

She gripped his butt and scraped her nails and he shouted.

She loved to watch him. It didn’t matter that she didn’t come again. She was well satisfied when she saw him lose his mind when he came. That was her new favorite memory. A memory to remove all of the bad ones.

Nothing else mattered because she had fallen in love with Pete.

-LA LIVING

Haymitch ran his hands through his hair. Whoever said there was no such thing as bad publicity should have been stuffed with the food from the first episode of that food network show America's worst cooks.

A month and a half had passed and still Peeta’s name was on the lips of every single exec, studio chief, or big time producer. They wanted Peeta to be in their next production. The Oscar talk in tinsel town was at a fevered pitch and with only one person leading the pack, his client, the kid.

He sat back in his chair. He had other clients, but the kid, he was special. Because unlike the other butter nutters that he dealt with, Peeta was a good kid. He was wholesome. Too darned good for this business.

His secretary buzzed in, “Mr. Abernathy.”

“Yeah,” Haymitch bit out.

“They are calling,” his secretary said with resigned annoyance.

 Haymitch gritted his teeth. The studio was calling.

“Fudge,” Haymitch said. He’d given up his two favorite pastimes, drinking and swearing. The drinking because when he found himself lying on top of a train track in the middle of nowhere with a train horn blasting in the distance. It had been time to get help. Two the cursing, it reminded him of the bars. There was something about a good curse word that brought images of a smooth malt whisky. So as part of his sobriety, he gave up cursing.

“You want me to tell them you’re not here,” his secretary sounded giddy as if she wanted to tell them what bridge they can use to take a flying leap from.

“No. Put them through.” He could only imagine what they wanted.

“Abernathy!”

“Ravenstill,” Haymitch greeted.

“I just wanted to tell you that this Agatha Christine stunt is the best thing that has happened. We are two months away from the Oscar Nominations; his name is like gold. Not to mention the movie has been number one for six weeks and has done phenomenally well internationally.”

Haymitch could hear P. Ravenstille the Third calculating the money in his head. To men and women like Ravenstille it was all about the money, not about the kid who had had enough to leave. 

“I just want him found before the Oscar nomination,” Ravenstill said.

“Is that all?” 

“Yes, good job. I’m sending a few clients your way, Abernathy. See what you can do for their careers.” 

With that Ravenstill was gone. 

Sighing deeply, Haymitch thought to himself, it was time to begin some digging of his own. He needed to find the kid.

-THE BUBBLE

A few days later Pete made her scream so much that the tension rods gave way and fell. Maybe it was the force of the bed hitting the wall, but it didn’t matter because coming with him buried deep within her walls shook her world. She couldn’t form a simple sentence afterwards. She was glad that afternoon, Prim had been next door playing video games with Vick and Rory.

It all came about because of laundry. She was making plies gearing up for laundry day. By the time she mentioned dryer sheets her underwear was hanging from the corner of the refrigerator. Peeta had a serious kink about laundry.

When Prim came home, she stopped and looked at both of them, as they made dinner. Her eyes narrowed. She looked suspicious.

“Why is your hair wet, Pete?” Prim asked.

Pete looked so embarrassed that he couldn’t come up with a single word.

“Prim go wash up. Dinner will be done in a few minutes,” Katniss shooed her away needing to quickly redirect her sister.

“But his hair is all wet,” Prim said.

This was going to be harder than corralling baby chicks. “We were playing with water Prim,” Katniss said.

“Wait, you had a water fight and didn’t invite me!” Prim sounded outraged.

“I’m sorry, you were so busy playing victory of something or other with Vick,” Katniss teased. It wasn’t a lie; she and Pete did play with water. A steamy game of hide the soap.

Prim twisted her face, and sounded like Daffy Duck, “You’re despicable.”

“I know,” Katniss winked. “Now go wash your hands.”

Pete raised an eyebrow.

Katniss felt the way her cheeks stung as she blushed. “I didn’t lie, we were playing with water.”

Pete’s throaty laugh made her wish they were alone.

-TINSEL TOWN CALL

“Haymitch darling!” Caesar Flickerman's excited voice made Haymitch want to stand in the center of oncoming traffic. The man was so cheerful it gave him a toothache.

“Flick, I’ve got an exclusive.” Haymitch said, jumping in his car.

“Rrrreally,” Caesar rolled his r’s like a cat purring. Caesar's real name was Pertanio Rodriguez, he changed his name to sound more commercial. But he emulated Walter Mercado, a famous and beloved astrologer. Despite his Liberace-like appearance, Caesar was one of the smartest interviewers.  

“Let’s just say I’m cashing in that favor, you owe me.” Haymitch slipped his glasses on. The black and white grainy pictures of a blond Peeta Mellark and a dark haired beauty were on his passenger side.

“You mean you know where Peeta Mellark is?”

“Yeah, I want you to get ready to move, and I mean move fast.” Haymitch knew everything, thanks to Finnick. He followed Pete Golightly to District Twelve and that’s where he found him playing house with a girl. Haymitch needed to spin this fast, because he guessed if he found Peeta this fast there were others who were on his trail. “The kid’s in love, and it’s why he left. To help his lady love.”

“OHHHHH,” Caesar said.

“Yeah, star crossed, flipping flip flop, lovers.”

 -THE APPROACH

Claudius was tired, but he knew he was getting close. He could taste it as he drove off the ferry into District Twelve. The island was small, mostly filled with rocky hills. This was the type of place where cousins kissed and everyone was related.

His proof? As he drove into town all he could see was tan and olive-skinned people, with slick black hair and light eyes. Yep, he was in an inbred clusterfuck. It was evening, and the sun was dipping low, closing on another day. It was starting to get cold.

The rented car needed gas; he drove it through the Capitol and eleven of the thirteen districts. He wanted nothing more than to find a hotel, get a hot meal, and a shower.

Pulling into the gas station a taller version of the inbred came out.

“Forty dollars regular.” Claudius offered the kid the two bills. He was looking at his emails. There was still no sight of Peeta Mellark.

He scowled. “You’re tearing the engine with regular.”

The growl snapped Claudius from perusing his phone. The kid looked like he could bench press him. “Fine.”

 “Ass,” the hot-tempered giant said.

“Look, I'm looking for someone. He’s medium height, blue eyes, broad shoulders…a chin that makes women swoon.”

The kid raised an eyebrow.

“Look, he kinda looks like Peeta Mellark the movie star,” Claudius doubted the giant had two brain cells that held a note of intelligence. “Do you know anyone who looks like that?”

The giant’s eyes widened and he growled, “I do.”

“You do, great!”

“Who the hell are you?”

Suddenly Claudius saw the kids eyes turn cold and calculating, and Claudius thought huh, he was wrong, the giant was smart.

“I’m a reporter, my name is Claudius.” Claudius took out his card and gave it to the giant. “I’m looking for him, you know where he is?”

“How much is it worth to you?”

“Sure, 50K,” Claudius said.

“100 Grand,” the giant countered.

“60..” the kids hand curled into a fist, and Claudius raised his price, his voice going up an octave. “70…5…75 Grand.”

“Good, name’s Gale.”

“Gale,” Claudius said, not sure if this kid was going to lead him to Peeta Mellark or  into the mountains and skin him alive.

“Meet me tomorrow,” Gale said scribbling the address on the back of his receipt.

“If this is…”

“You want Mellark, right?” Gale asked.

“Yeah, well meet me there tomorrow morning. Early, or you won’t catch him.”

Claudius knew there was a story here, “Why?”

“Look, this district is so small about half a dozen people already know that you’re here. The news will get to him quickly and he’ll leave. Do you want that?”

“No.” Claudius felt like he was back in third grade being chastised by his thick legged hairy teacher Mrs. Gaul.

“Good, then drive four miles, make a left on Chicory lane and stop at number 451, and tell the goat man I sent you. He’ll take care of you tonight. Meet me tomorrow before five at this address.

-THE CALM

Katniss awoke slowly, she was surrounded, cocooned in a delicious warmth and manly scent. Their first date led to her sleeping with him. Heat spread throughout her body as she recalled the way it felt to have him deep inside her, the way her body split and widened to accommodate him. His look was a blend of worry and bliss. Seeing him come undone was one of her new favorite things to do.

Of course Pete confessed his favorite thing to do was making her orgasm over and over.

“How is it you’re not sleeping?”

His sleep roughened voice caused gooosebumps to appear up and down her body.

“Well, I have to go get Prim, she’s at Coral’s house.”

“Right,” Pete rubbed his eyes.

“Pete, you don’t have to go.”

Pete looked at his phone, “Katniss it’s not even five in the morning.”

“It isn’t?” Katniss looked at his phone. “I forgot the whole time-change thing.”

Pete laughed, “Well that gives us time...”

Katniss turned and saw him leering at her and she gasped and laughed as Pete attacked her lips.

-THE SNARE

Gale couldn’t believe his nemesis was none other than the ‘goody-toO-shoes’ Hollywood star; Peeta Mellark was Pete Golightly. It was the same blue eyes, chin, build, height, even his smile was the same. Only his hair was different. Peeta’s blond hair didn’t look like a bottle dye job though. He looked like a natural blond. Either way, Gale wanted to smack himself on the back of his head. His anger had blinded him and he hadn’t made the connection; the missing Hollywood star was hiding here in District Twelve, and now that Hollywood star had seduced the one clueless girl on the entire island that he, Gale, desired.

Gale looked at his phone. Claudius, the reporter was late. Gale had googled the guy last night. Claudius was legit. He worked as an independent photographer for Snow Incorporated; Coriolanus Snow owned several tabloid magazines, and a few reputable newspapers. 

For once Gale was glad Katniss' sister wasn’t at home. He knew Prim wasn’t in the apartment. Vick, his little brother said she was having a slumber party this weekend. Prim shouldn’t have to pay for her sister's indiscretion. 

A cold breeze slipped by. It was cold outside, and it looked like snow was on the way.

Pete or rather Peeta, was inside with Katniss.   

Gale wondered if Katniss knew who Pete really was and if that was why she’d let him into her inner circle. Maybe she was attracted to his fame and fortune. If that was the case, and Katniss turned out to be one of those girls, then what chance did he, a mechanic, have. She would never go for him. And that is why he was waiting for the reporter.

He wanted her to hurt the way he hurt.

He wanted her to be embarrassed the way he was embarrassed at her denial of what he wanted.

He wasn't an idiot. He was smart.

And with the money he was about to make he certainly didn’t want a cheap hussy like Katniss by his side. He was going to get himself a good girl, a girl who wanted him for more than just his looks and money. 

Gale spotted the reporter’s car as it pulled up silently.

“What kind of Blair Witch Project kind of road is this? I swear I was afraid I was going to fall into a ditch and die a few times.” 

“You made it, didn’t you?”

Claudius sighed, “Yeah.”

“You got the money?”

“I need the goods,” Clausidius said.

“Look, I know you think I’m some backward hick living in a hole in the wall, but I know that if you don’t pay me, the best picture you’ll get of Mellark is a picture of him from behind, leaving this house. What I got planned is going to make you notorious.” Gale held up the extra set of keys to the rental. 

The reporter grimaced, but looked at the keys. “Fine,” Claudius said. He got out of his car and pulled out a messenger bag full of  money and handed it to Gale. 

“That's half, that's all I have with me,” Claudius said. 

“Once I get the picture, I’ll get you the other half.”

“Then let's go,” Gale said, striding forward.

-THE STORM

Peeta lazily let his hands drift over Katniss’ arm. They were cuddling, spooning. Her delicious backside was pressed up against his front. She was half-asleep, lulled by their last round of love making. 

Prim told him last night that he needed to tell Katniss the truth.  He was scared. But as Prim said, Katniss knew him. She knew the real him and not the poster board flashy grinning guy he had to portray in the media. Everything was pretend in Hollywood and over the top. He wanted something real and he found it in her. 

His heart melted for her. He was in love for the first time in his life. He loved and was in love with Katniss and this morning he was going to tell Katniss the truth about who he was.

“Katniss,” he whispered into her cheek. 

“Mmmm,” she moans sleepily.  

“Come on, Everdeen,” he nipped at her neck, chin, and earlobe. 

“Go away,” she snuggles into the bed. 

“Katniss,” he tried again. “I’m going to make you cheese buns.”

“Mmmm, cheese buns.”

“And my real name is Peeta Mellark,” he said quietly. 

Her eyes opened, just as the curtains to her room opened and the flash of a camera went off. 

“PEETA MELLARK,” Cluadius shouts as he takes pictures. “Is she what made you leave Hollywood!”

Peeta took his shirt and covered Katniss before he leapt from the bed and pushed Caludius out of the bedroom and out of the apartment.

“Gale?” Katniss asked behind him. 

Peeta saw the tall lanky neighbor with a pleased grin in the shadows as Claudius took pictures. His first instinct was to punch the idiot, because he knew it was Gale that sold them out. His second instinct was to call in the calvary, Haymitch.  

-THE FRENZY

"My sister. They're going to take my sister away," Katniss whispered, pacing back and forth.

“Katniss, I am sorry about this,” Pete says, running his hand through his blond hair. 

She can’t stop the worrying. Then she paused and stared at the man she’d fallen in love, the man who lied to her. “You were trying to tell me...before that...that.”

“I wanted to be honest with you.” He stood and came to stand near her. 

Suddenly she was filled with questions, all of them starting with the word, why. "How did you come up with your name Pete Golightly?”

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepbrun’s name is Holly Golightly. It’s the name I use whenever I check into hotels. I changed my name slightly and used Golightly. Only one person knows my alias, a fail safe in case someone needs to reach me in an emergency.” 

“Huh,” Katniss cocked her head. She didn’t like old movies and frankly had never seen it. But she was familiar with the posters of Audry Hepurn standing in front of the jewelry store.  “Breakfast at Tiffany’s, the girl with the black dress.”

“That’s the one.”

“Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because." He waits a beat before he says, "I was in hiding. I didn’t want to burden you with  knowing. Besides, no one needs me."

Katniss couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her lips. How could anyone not want him, need him.

“But you’re a movie star?” Katniss whispered, wondering how she missed out on the reality that he was Peeta Mellark, the movie star. She had a poster of him when she was younger. But she blinked to focus. Pete was really Peeta. She furrowed her eyebrows as she thought about what she knew about him. She'd seen him during these last few weeks, tested his metal. Carefully she made a list of the things she knew about Peeta, the man. He was smart, strong, generous, kind, sweet, good. At the last word she stopped. Peeta was beyond, just, plain ol' good. He had an inherent goodness that was at the center of his being, and people didn’t see it because they were taken in by the fame.

“Exactly.” He gave her a pointed look. “They need my money, notoriety, fame...but no one needs me. My family,” his voice sounds bitter laced with disappointment. "They only need me and use me for the money in my bank account. My mother sold the spare key to my house for a fee to the tabloids. They went through my home and splayed it in Snow’s publications for the world to see.  When I asked why, my mother said it was because I was a selfish, weak chinned, dumbass who she was going to sue for lost wages. As we speak her lawyers are filing paperwork.” 

He sighed and his eyes saddened. Katniss could see how broken and lost he was, and Katniss reached out to touch his hand. She wonders what kind of woman would do that to her own child.  Katniss had no idea. she didn't read the tabloids or watched shows about movie stars and their sordid lives. She was too busy trying to put food on the table and keep a roof over her and her sister’s heads. 

Sad blue eyes met her fiery silver ones. Katniss wanted to tuck him away and keep him safe.

“I left Hollywood because I was burnt out. I thought no one cared for me. I do not need attention, as Haymitch will attest to, I hate the attention, but I love the work. However, people want the movie star.  They don’t want me Peeta, the guy who would rather hang out, paint or experiment with food. I only have two friends Haymitch, which you’re about to meet and I am apologizing for what Haymitch is, and Finnick Odair.  Yes, that Finnick Odair who runs around in his movies, half naked, half the time."

Kathiss wrinkled her nose at the image of the guy with the Jason Mamoa body, and the devil may care grin. He was, in Delly's words, melt your panties hot. But Katniss didn't find him interesting. "I've been forced to watch a few of his movies."

His eyes lighted and his lips formed a smile at the word forced. 

"Delly." Katniss shrugged. "She thinks he is sultry, but he's not my type." She watched his eyes process the information. "So if you don't have that many friends..." her voice drifted. Gleaning his information about his family, she formulated the question. Katniss didn't have a lot of friends. There was only Delly and Madge. But she also had Prim, her only family,  and even her pacifist her sister would punch bees for her. "What do you do?"

"I sit home most of the time doing laundry. Perfecting my fitted sheet fold."

"You have a thing about laundry."

"Just yours," his heated look caused her pulse racing.

"Peeta," she chastised. He smiled mischievously and picked up the bra that she'd been looking for.

Intense heat flooded her cheeks. She imagined she had to be redder than the child of a tomato and a cherry. She snatched it from his hands. "You need to get back to Hollywood...and why you left."

Peeta cleared his throat. "I really don't do the whole Hollywood thing. I don't party. I don't drink and I don't do drugs. Most of my nights I hang out with Finn and his wife Annie. I do a lot of laundry for Annie. They have an adorable lil boy, a toddler, named Finian. Fin for short, who loves mud. I do their laundry for fun. But outside of them, like I said,  I have no one and I know that no one wants me, so I walked away. I didn’t think anyone would hunt me down. I am sorry.”

Katniss didn’t have a voice momentarily, so she continued to listen.

“I came here, intending to hide out for a few days and then head to District Thirteen. Then I walked into Greasy Sae’s and I couldn’t breath when I saw you and weirdly parallel stalked you…and then I met Prim.”

“What about Prim?” Katniss needed to know everything. It would serve her right that, her super intelligence off the charts, baby sister would figure who Pete really was.

“Prim knows, she figured me out. Within seconds...she knew all of my media history. She's tough, made me sweat.”  

Katniss chuckled. Her baby sister could be exasperating and could be terrifying when she turned on, what Katniss called her smart factor. Prim was a computer able to make calculations about all sorts of things. Katniss was the only one who could match her sister when engaged. But it also reminds Katniss of the pictures of her naked with Peeta.  "Oh the pictures. This isn't good Pete...Peeta."

"Katniss trust me, we'll figure a way out. I swear. My manager Haymitch will know what to do.” Peeta's voice was reassuring.

“No, you don’t understand the state; they will see this as me being irresponsible. They will take my sister away and put her in foster care.” Katniss couldn’t help the way her voice rose. Everything was spinning out of control.  She couldn’t help the tears that fell from her face.

“Listen to me. Haymitch is almost here. He said he has a plan.” He gathered her in his arms and she sighed and trembled. 

All she ever wanted was to make her sister feel safe. She wanted to make her sister feel as if nothing else could go wrong. She closed her eyes. Now she couldn’t do that because a paparazzi had taken naked pictures of her and Pete...Peeta. Naked pictures that would be splashed and splayed all over tabloids and news media outlets.  

Pictures that weren’t Peeta’s fault, but Gale’s. 

Gale sold Peeta out.

“Pete, I mean Peeta,” Katniss couldn’t hide her misery. “Those pictures, they’re going to use them against me. They are going to use them against you too.”

His eyes warmed. 

His cell phone beeped.  He looks at his phone. “Delly’s here.”  Delly was bringing Prim home. There was another ping. He frowned looking at the phone then said, “...and so is Haymitch.”

He gave her a look, as if pleading with her to trust him. He looked so vulnerable. Katniss expelled a breath. She’d question if she should trust him. A single word enters her mind. Together.

Taking his hand in hers. "There isn’t anyone I would rather do this with."

He chuckled. "You’re so fierce, like an Amazon."

Katniss grinned. "You haven't seen me with my bow."

"You’re so amazing."

Their hands threaded together. She was going to protect Peeta because the whirlwind of pain stopped here.

Let the storm commence.

"Together," Peeta said with hope.

 "Together."

-THE BUCK STOPS AT LA

Peeta opened his mouth to speak as Haymitch entered the garage. The kid’s text message that Claudius broke into the girl's apartment and took pictures of them in-flagrante had him calling in the troops. He had less than an hour to spin and control the narrative. Naked pictures of the kid wouldn’t have meant anything to Haymitch if it were another client, but the kid had a stellar track record. It meant the world. He sent a text to his contact, another favor. The kid was going to owe him big.

"Save it, kid," he said gruffly. He needed a drink, hell, he needed an entire bottle of whisky.  "Flipping burnt flapjacks, kid, if you needed a break." His eyes scanned the small interior. His car was bigger on the inside than this place. "I could have helped you."

"Haymitch," Peeta looked behind him at the girl and her sister.

"I'm sorry," Prim said quietly. "I wanted to tell you. But Peeta needed to feel safe."

"I know." Katniss nodded curtly. 

Peeta's love interest had the personality of a dead slug. His phone pinged. Haymitch hid his eavesdropping. His eyes focused on Peeta. The kid was more than just a client; he was like family. 

Haymitch lowered his voice. "I know this had to do with your family. So I let you go, my mistake. And I'm not letting anyone ruin you for a paycheck. Now introduce me."

"Haymitch, this is Katniss Everdeen and her sister Primrose.

It only took Haymitch seconds for him to assess the situation.

The little sister Primrose was sugary sweet, adorable. Her wide baby blue eyes held intelligence and goodness. The world was going to love her. 

His grey eyes met the girl. "Listen Sweetheart, if you’re going to survive this, you've got to listen to me."

His grey eyes watched the kid with the girl. He hid his grin when she scowled at his nickname for her.  He could see her bristle, before her eyes shuttered closed, almost like a camera lense quickly shifting to block out light. "Okay, lovebirds, Cinna is here. And Caesar is waiting outside to interview you both." 

"Haymitch," Peeta said, taking a step forward to protect both of the women in his arms. This behavior he expected from the kid.

Sweetheart’s behavior though surprised him. When Katniss glanced at Peeta, she transformed into a fiery creature that is so pure and majestic. Haymitch realized Sweetheart was a lot like him. Tender hearted, fiercely loyal, with a tough exterior. Haymitch knew the girl was smitten with Peeta himself, and not the Hollywood facade. This he could work with. 

"Haymitch, Katniss is Primrose's guardian. The pictures Claudius took are salacious and damning." Peeta glanced back at Katniss before moving forward. “She can't afford to have them come out. We need to make sure they are protected."

"Look, I can sell this star-crossed lover." As expected Sweetheart scowled. Good, Haymitch thought; he wanted her to go into combat mode. "You guys will tell Caesar the truth." As Haymitch spoke he was furiously typing on the keypad of his phone. "He's broadcasting it onto a live audience. People love a good love story. Any pictures Claudius has will be seen as intrusive."

Haymitch opened the door to Cinna who arrived with the prep team. 

"How long do we have?"

"15 minutes tops," Haymitch said.

Cinna nodded. The team hauled in dresses, makeup, lights, and things Haymitch was sure the Everdeen women had never seen. 

"What the hell is going on here?"

Haymitch turned to meet a woman who looked to be six feet tall. Her sharp eyes glance at Sweetheart. Haymitch guessed this was landlady by her agitated face. 

"Hazelle," Sweetheart said, and he could see that she wanted to cry, but she built up a wall. This wasn't a friend, but the woman was an authority figure. Someone Sweetheart looked up to. 

“Katniss what is going on? Why are all these people trespassing? Gale called me and said that you had all of these people here.”

Sweetheart was easy to read.  She was pissed at the name Gale. He quietly glanced at the kid who’s eyes ticked also at the sound of Gale’s name. 

“Who is Gale?” Haymitch abruptly asked, not caring about the woman before him. He knew Gale was related to Hazelle but he wanted to know what part this idiot had in this fiasco.

“Gale is my son, and this is my property.”

Sweetheart looked agitated, and he wondered if this Gale was the reason he was here. The reason the kid and sweetheart were in this mess.  Peeta mouthed Claudius to him and confirmed his suspicions. “You rent to her?” Haymitch narrowed his eyes. 

“Yes.” Hazelle bit back. “I want…” 

Haymitch got in her way, stopping her torrent of words. His phone pinged, and he got what he was waiting for, the pictures, from an insider at the tabloid Claudius sold the pictures to.  As he's suspected, the money shot wasn't of Peeta, it was of Peeta with Sweetheart. Haymitch then saw why Peeta was upset. Because the pictures showed how vulnerable the kid's other half was. It was Sweetheart’s whose life would be ruined. Her name raked through hot coals and muck. This was the intention of Hazelle’s son, and Haymitch scratched the words 'Hazelles son' and for the first time in years he cursed, that rat bastard. “Then you know your son allowed a paparazzi into your renter’s apartment and let him take pictures of my client and his girlfriend while they were asleep?”

Her eyes widened with shock. “My son would never…”

“Really,” Haymitch held his phone up and. “I believe that is your son in the background with a smug grin on his face. He violated the renter’s agreement to be notified before entering the residence. He also is a slimy, no good worm for doing that to her.” Haymitch said, “Hope you’re proud of your son.” 

Hazelle’s eyes lost her indignation. "I..."  

"I suggest you lawyer up. I've just sent the information to my client’s lawyer, Johanna Mason. I suggest you call your son and tell him he can kiss the money he made goodbye." 

"Johanna?" Peeta questioned.

Haymitch grinned wickedly. Peeta hadn't wanted to do anything about his mother, but Haymitch went behind his back to procure Hollywood's number one ball busting lawyer Johanna Mason. She gleefully was preparing the paperwork against Snow; the woman loathed the man. She already had an injunction against the images. "Don't worry Kid, she's doing this pro-bono. Now go get pretty. You go live with Caesar in less than ten."

-THE INTERVIEW

Caesar Flickerman was like a circus ringleader. Literally dressed like a ringleader with a red jacket, black lapels, and gold trimming. His hair was jet black and his smile was a little too crazed for Katniss' liking. She squared her shoulders, looking at Haymitch who raised an eyebrow and his eyes slid to the camera letting her know she was not acting like the doting girlfriend. It caused her to gaze at Peeta who took her hand and squeezed it. The butterflies that were eerily silent until this very moment were having a championship hockey match inside of her stomach.

She was so uncomfortable. In ten minutes she’d been waxed, pealed, and poured into clothing with price tags that made her head spin. The jean’s she wore cost more than her rent. She and her sister were sitting on either side of Peeta. Primrose looked beautiful, her blonde hair combed and styled to perfection. Cinna and his assistants dressed her in a graphic t-shirt dress and distressed jacket. She wore lace up black ankle boots. Prim was excited for the fashion and Katniss' heart twisted because she could never afford to give her sister any of this. 

Looking down at her hands, she thought this was all surreal. 

There were cameras, glaring lights, this fuzzy long thing that hung right above her head. It was hot and uncomfortable. It was also live.

Caesar was speaking to the camera about them. 

It was too much. Those butterflies that were playing hockey now drove dune buggies. Her eyes looked for an exit. She didn’t know how Peeta did it, being on center stage. 

Sensing her discomfort, Peeta put his arm around her shoulders, bringing her closer. Katniss sighed, looking up at him. The sooty lashes that Peeta's prep team glued to her lids stuck together and she blinked to  separate them; this is why she didn't wear makeup.

Peeta might have read the wrong signal because he leaned in and brushed a kiss on her lips. Then his lips trailed from the cleft of her lips to her cheeks to her ear. "You okay?" he whispered.

Katniss could feel heat flush her face as she realized Peeta had found a way to communicate without breaking the charade. Katniss whispered, "My fake lashes keep on sticking together. And I loathe make up!"

The low rumble in his chest meant he was caught off guard.

She wanted to hide her grin, and he wiggled his eyebrows. There was the loveable goofball who had an unnatural love of all things laundry. Say the words fabric softener and he became a puppy with a favorite toy.

He roughly whispered, "You're amazing!"

He gently brushed her lashes and adjusted the troublesome lash before moving away.

"Look at you two, what a beautiful couple!" Caesar gushed.

For those few seconds Katniss was grateful for the man's exuberance; it's as if he was on their side.  

“So what happened Peeta?” Caesar said with notes of sincerity. “Why did you walk away?”

Peeta leaned forward and Katniss slipped her hand in his. 

“It was the whole thing with my parents.” Peeta’s voice hid nothing of the pain; he shared it with the world. “My mother sold me to the highest bidder, and,” Katniss squeezed his hand. “They went through my home. I felt violated, and unable to feel safe.”

Caesar said, “I recall that wasn’t that long ago.”

“The pressure, sadness, and betrayal were eating me up and I needed to step away.  I am not a drinker or a guy who enjoys partying.” Peeta shrugged. “I’m a homebody. I’m more domestic.” 

Katniss thought of his love of laundry and the butterflies in her stomach settled.   

Caesar laughed. “Domestic.”

“He makes great pastries,” Prim said. Her eyes were wide and lovely. 

“Pastries?” Caesar asked. 

“Here you want some?” Prim held up a bag of cookies. “They are heavenly.”

“PRIM,” Katniss huffed. “I’m so sorry.”

Peeta grinned.  “You see Caesar, this is what I needed.”

Caesar laughed. “Tell me who are these lovely ladies…”

“This is Primrose Everdeen,” Peeta introduced. 

“Hi Caesar,” Prim said. “Seriously though you need to try these cookies.” Prim opened the brown bag and handed one to Caesar.

“Well, alright,” Caesar looked at the cookie as if tasting it was going to make him gain three hundred pounds. 

“It’s gluten free, dairy free, and nut free,” Prim smiled. 

The camera zoomed into Caesar’s face and Katniss witnesses the power of Peeta’s bakery take down another person. The celebrity interviewers face turners into one of pure rapture. “Peeta, you must give me the recipe.”

“Sorry his baked goods are all mine,” Prim said. 

Caesar laughed. “Oh she is precious. But tell me who is this sitting next to you?”

“Caesar this is Katniss Everdeen.”

The butterflies were back and they had jackhammers. 

“She’s the reason I stayed actually. They aren’t the reason I walked away, but they are the reason I didn’t go back” Peeta confessed. His voice softened, his eyes held notes of tenderness as he spoke, “These two women mean the world to me.”

Even the hardened Hollywood crew sighed at Peeta’s words. 

“I met him first,” Prim said. “But I needed to make sure he had good intentions toward my sister.” 

“Katniss,” Caesar asked, “You’ve been so quiet.”

Katniss glanced at her sister and then at Peeta, unaware of the way her face transformed and caused the world to fall in love with her. She transcended into something fierce and wildly beautiful. 

The camera scanned down to the way her hands were intertwined with Peeta’s. 

“When did you fall for him? Did you know who Peeta was?”

Katniss couldn’t stop staring into Peeta’s blue eyes. “I didn’t know who he was; I was clueless.” Her voice trembled, “All I know is that he was so kind and generous.” She stared, not at the camera but at Caesar. “And when I found out who he was and what happened I just couldn’t understand why any mother would want to hurt their child like that.”   

Peeta smiled softly then he looked at Caesar, “Now you know why I stayed.” Peeta then placed a kiss on her lips and then said, “What I didn’t expect was another invasion of privacy.” 

 -AMERICAN SWEETHEARTS

“You alright?” Peeta tucked a strand of her hair behind Katniss' ear. She looked gorgeous. Cinna had outdone himself. She wore a red dress that looked like poured molten fire on her skin. Peeta couldn’t wait to get back home and strip her out of it. 

“I am.” 

He watched her hands shake. The Oscars was the superbowl of the movie industry. Peeta held her hand. Outside the limo, there were about a thousand reporters and wall to wall fans.  This was overwhelming for her and he was the professional. He could just imagine what it was like for a girl who would rather sit in the chair of a sadistic dentist sans novacaine than to be thrust into the controlled mêle that existed outside the limo’s door.

“You don’t have to go in with me; you can stay in the car. You can go back to the hotel, rent a movie, jump on the bed, steal all of the toiletries in the room, and if you are feeling dangerous," Peeta lowered his voice an octave, "rip the tags off the mattress.”

Katniss narrowed her eyes at him. He watched her struggle to keep the laughter she wanted to expel over his ridiculous suggestion. He, of course, made reference to the small argument they were having over her purity. 

It started with Finnick doing his whole Daniel Craig, James Bond thing where he came out of the water. Finnick was messing with her and Katniss disliked him. She proceeded to give Finnick, ‘if he were in her woods he'd be in big trouble’ looks throughout the barbeque. 

Peeta told her, Finnick was only messing with her because she was pure.  And Katniss bristled, and fought that she wasn't pure. But Peeta didn't mean it in a sexual way. He meant it in the way that she was pure of heart. Katniss had a pure heart. Like the hero's of old, she was valiant and although tough as nails, she was forgiving. Gale betrayed her and she was mulling over forgiving him.

After Caesar's interview, Peeta and Katniss’ relationship was cemented in the public eye. Haymitch was able to control the narrative since Katniss led a normal life and wasn't like Finnick, who had so many hidden skeletons in his closet. Haymitch was taking care of the Everdeen women, mentoring them. He had an affinity for Prim and Katniss. They understood one another because Haymitch had lost his family as well, and he had tried to raise his brother, but they were separated and sent into foster homes. 

Haymitch hired Johanna to help Katniss retain her custody of Prim. They were seeking visas for all three of them. Peeta to travel in and out of Panem, and For Katniss and Prim. 

Johanna, spurred by the public outcry over the second violation of his privacy, wanted Snow and his tabloids prosecuted for invasion of privacy of someone who wasn't in the limelight. Gale and Claudius were arrested for, breaking and entering and some other misdemeanor charges. Claudius was facing a harder climb because he was an outsider. Because of Katniss, there was clemency for Gale. And that brought him back to why Katniss was pure. She didn't even know the effect she had on people or how she inspired others.  

Peeta reached out and put his hand on top of hers. “No, I can do this,” she said.

He knew this was not easy, but as she sat perched at the edge of her seat, he thought about how Katniss became his family. How she encouraged him to take on meaningful roles, and to pursue directing and production. They were both still young, but he knew from the moment his eyes met hers in Greasy Sae's diner he was a goner. His feelings for Katniss multiplied as time passed and they worked through each hurdle together. 

Looking at her, Peeta knew without a doubt Katniss had strong feelings for him as well. She wasn't someone who used words; she spoke with her actions. Katniss fought by his side. Simple things she did. Like making his tea the way he liked it without sugar and milk. Opening the window before they went to sleep because she knew he liked to sleep with a window open. Googling how to make natural paints, then going out into nature and gathering supplies to make the paint for him. It spoke volumes.

"I love you," the words slipped out of his lips. 

Her eyes widened.

"You don't have to say it back to me, because I know that you care about me. You do a hundred little things in the day to show me the depths of your emotions toward me." 

He watched as a smile curved her lips. Her silvery eyes sparkled, greater than sunlight glittering on the surface of water. She stole his breath away. All he ever wanted was to be needed, loved, and here was the personification of that need.

"I need you Peeta," she rasped. He could hear and see the depth of emotion in her eyes. "I love you." 

He leaned in and with shaking hands cupped her face. Suddenly he didn’t want to be at the Oscars. Peeta wanted to be in a private room to show her with his words, his mouths, his hands, and his body just how much he loved this woman. “Screw the Oscars, let's get out of here.” 

Her eyes turned mischievous, “Oh hell no. I wasn’t plucked, creamed and stuffed into this dress like a holiday turkey by Cinna and his prep team just to turn around and leave. We’re going to walk that carpet, we’re gonna sit in our seats, and do this shindig, because as much as I like pissing off Haymitch, I don’t think we should give him a heart attack by not showing up.”

Peeta laughed. There she was pushing her own discomfort for him. “And afterwards?”

“Win or lose, Pete Golightly, you’re taking this dress off with your teeth.” She threw him a mischievous look, “And then we’re going to grab some fabric sheets and sniff them.”

The door opened and Peeta was stunned by her description. Heat and desire poured through his veins. He now had a boner. Then a slow smile spread on his face he was going to go home a winner no matter what.  Laughter erupted from his lips, though from the fabric sheets comment and the sheer joy on his face was the picture that was captured by the press.

Peeta did win the Oscar, and he did go home, and he did tear off her dress with his teeth. And afterwards they did laundry all night long. He was after all, a man of his word. 

[baseballbitch116]

MOBILE MASTERLIST - @BASEBALLBITCH116

Links to every imagine I have written - this is an 18+ blog

I am also on Wattpad - baseballbitch116 - most of this content can be found there as well

* = Sexual content

Updated last - 4/20/20

The Walking Dead:

When They’re Jealous

How They React To You Being Touchy*

When They’re Possessive*

You Die

You Run To Them During An Attack

Someone Else Kisses You

Someone Else Flirts With You

Your Child Calls Them Daddy

Mini-Series

Negan x Reader x Daryl:

Bad Guy | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6(coming soon)

Dixon Brothers x Reader:

The Dixon’s Next Door | pt 2(coming soon)

Shane Walsh:

At All Costs | pt 2 | pt 3(coming soon)

Daryl Dixon:

Sweetheart | pt 2 | pt 3 | pt 4 | pt 5 | pt 6

Do Better | pt 2

Daddy Daryl | pt 2 | pt 3 | pt 4(coming soon)

You’re Staring

Can’t Sleep

You Know You Like Me

Dating Daryl Would Include…

Drunken Fight

Wasn’t Jealous

Daryl’s Girl

Assaulted

Hit On, Literally

Claimed

Pillowtalk | pt 2

Little Things

Sing For Us

Everything You Want

Don’t Give Up

Welcoming Party

The Poncho

Meet Jesus

Reunited

Admit It

Horny Daryl*

His Shirt

Sunbathing

Night Shift

Welcome To Alexandria

Fun In The Mud

Can’t Lose Ya Too

Another Hot Day

I Can’t Help That I Love You!

A Quick Run

On Watch

Mistletoe*

Don’t Leave Me

Aphrodite Beat Yer Ass

Scars & Stretch Marks

Tattoos

Hurts So Good

Newborn

Negan:

Weakness

Dating Negan Would Include…

I Love You

Anxiety Attack

That Ass

Pickles

Everything You Want

The Blizzard

Fireworks*

It’s Happening

You’re Religious

Shane Walsh:

Jealous*

Dating Shane Would Include…

His Family | pt 2(coming soon)

Surprises

Rick Grimes:

Dating Rick Would Include…

He Saves You

Tara Chambler:

Coming Out To Tara

Paul Rovia:

Meet Jesus

Flirt

Visit

I’ve Missed You*

Abraham Ford:

Dating Abraham Would Include…

Glenn Rhee:

Dating Glenn Would Include…

Marine

Carl Grimes:

Dating Carl Would Include…

Jeffrey Dean Morgan:

Treat You Better

Treat You Better pt 2

Treat You Better pt 3

Avengers:

When They’re Jealous…

How they Kiss You

Eating Disorder

Your Child Has A Nightmare

Tony Stark(Ironman):

Dating Tony Stark Would Include…

One Date

Someone Breaks In

Come Back | pt 2

Possessiveness

Loki Laufeyson:

Dating Loki Would Include…

Mind Games | pt 2 | pt 3*

Jealousy

Let Me Love You

You Don’t Own Me | I Belong To You*

The Mortal

Wound

My Queen

Soft Spot

Anything For You

Bucky Barnes:

Dating Bucky Would Include…

Meeting The Team

You’re Perfect

I Missed You | Protective

Attention

Beauty and The Soldier

Doctor Strange:

Thor’s Daughter

Clint Barton(Hawkeye):

Dating Clint Barton Would Include…

Damn Flirt

Dream Come True

Steve Rogers(Captain America):

Dating Steve Roger’s Would Include…

Someone Breaks In

Safe

The Dare

Something New

Bruce Banner(Hulk):

Dating Bruce Banner Would Include…

Thor Odinson:

Dating Thor Would Include…

Thor’s Daughter

Pumpkin Carving

Pietro Maximoff(Quicksilver):

Dating Pietro Maximoff Would Include…

Nice Fighting

Peter Parker(Spiderman):

You’re A Painter

The Vampire Diaries/The Originals:

How They Kiss You | pt 2

Dominant or Submissive

Morning After

Who They’re Jealous Of

Texting | pt 2

How You Sleep

Stefan Salvatore:

Dating Stefan Would Include…

Paul Wesley:

Action

Damon Salvatore:

Cute Moment (blurb)

Goddess | pt 2?

Klaus Mikaelson:

Dating Klaus Would Include…

She’s Mine

Groceries(blurb)

The Big Bad Hybrid | pt 2 | pt 3(coming soon)

Elijah Mikaelson:

Can’t Sleep

Presents | pt 2*

Enzo:

Dating Enzo Would Include…

Teen Wolf:

Peter Hale:

Bait

Narnia

Peter Pevensie:

Fate | pt 2

The Hunger Games:

When They’re Jealous

Peeta Mellark:

Can’t Be Together

The Twilight Saga:

Nighttime(Cullen’s)

Nighttime(Wolf Pack)

Cuddling

How You Met

Jasper Hale:

Bruises

Try

Moody

Losing Control

Undeniable Feelings

The First Time**

Paul Lahote:

Run | Chapter Two(coming soon)

Protective

Possessive

Paul’s Imprint

I Need You*

Kitty Kitty

Warm*

Sam Uley:

Alpha’s Imprint

Jacob Black:

Imprinted

I Could Get Used To This

Emmett Cullen:

My Hero

Edward Cullen:

Rainy Day

Seth Clearwater:

Dating Seth Includes…

Law & Order: SVU:

Fake Boyfriend

Rafael Barba:

Protective

Possessive

Another Late Night

Taking Care Of Him

I Missed You*

Sonny Carisi:

William Lewis

Bait

Undercover

Misunderstandings

I’ve Missed You*

Nick Amaro:

Nick Flirting With You

Mike Dodds:

Dating Mike Would Include…

Fin Tutuola:

Coffee?

Harry Potter:

George Weasley:

Thanks Malfoy

Brothers

Behave

Christmas Surprises

Fred Weasley:

Not So Identical

Divergent:

Eric:

He Gets Jealous

Respect

Respect part 2**NSFW

Insecure

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles(2016):

How You Meet

Emotional S/O

Unwind

Stretch Marks

Leonardo:

He Realizes He Likes You

In Heat*

Relaxation

Weakness

Raphael:

Flirting | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | part 5 | part 6 | part 7 | part 8

“He Likes Her!!!”

In Heat*

Donatello:

How You Meet part 2

Help Me

Protected | part 2

Sleep

Treats

School

Anniversary*

Michelangelo:

No Noise*

You’re Okay Now

The Expendables:

Barney Ross:

Your Ex Hurts You

Welcome Back

Lee Christmas:

Your Ex Hurts You

Boss Problems

Christmas Fights

Gunner Jensen:

Your Ex Hurts You

Don’t Die On Me

Can We Cuddle?

Ticklish

Mine*

Impractical Jokers:

How They Act When They’re Jealous

You Try To Leave Him

Whipped

He Proposes

Protective

Sal Vulcano:

Sal’s “Punishment”

Losing A Challenge For You

Coming Home

You’ve Split Up & He Sees You With Someone Else

Brian(Q)Quinn:

He Misses You

When He First Saw You

You Split Up & He See You With Someone Else

He Defends You

5 Seconds Of Summer:

You’re Not Dating But He’s Jealous

You’re Not Dating But He’s Jealous Part 2

What He’s Like In Bed**NSFW

Eminem:

Who’s He?

It’s My Job! 

[ellanainthetardis]

Ask game 1 and 8!! <3

1 What OTPs in your fandom(s) do you just not get?*

I wouldn't say I don't "get" it but I'm not a fan of Katniss/Johanna but I think mostly it's because I ship everlark too much and I have my own hc about Johanna and sexuality and love so... Yeah. Same goes for Jo and Haymitch. I'm just not into that.

Aside from that the ships I reaaaaaally REAAALLY do not get (though everyone can ship what they want I just avoid them) are any combination of Katniss & Peeta with Effie & Haymitch and yes they exist I have seen them XD It's just noooot for me. To me Effie and Haymitch are considering them like their children and similarly the kids see them as parents and every time I see a Kat/Haymitch or Peeta/Effie (or Kat/Effie or Peeta/Haymitch) I'm a bit... on the not good. But you know to each their own.

I'm not sure what other fandoms I should do... But I will do my mains?

In stargate a ship I did not get was Jack and Daniel... It never made sense to me from a romance perspective but they do have a great bromance and there weren't that many gay ship at the time (stil isn't) that I can understand why we went there.

In HP, I guess the ship I don't like is Harry/Voldy but I say that and yet I knoooow somewheer there must be an awesome timetravel fic with this exact pairing that just naiiils it. It's the beauty of the hp fandom they have something for everything.

Also let's talk Shadow and Bones because why not and I do not I DO NOT understand the appeal of book Mal/alina. That's it. I said it XD They did a good job of making him more likeable in the show but in the books OMG.

Also Angel/Buffy is not my fav pairing. I kind of get it because I used to ship it but I feel like the older you get the less sense this ship makes. It was creepy. It was creepy from the start and Angel isn't a good guy really... I know Spike has his flaws obviously but their ship makes sooo much more sense and they completed it really well in the comics so yeah... The Angel/Buffy as endgame I am not on board of that ship at all.

8 Have you received anon hate? What about?*

Sure. I'm told that's what happens when you become "popular" in a fandom.

What was it about... mmm I've been called a bitch because I am many things but not a hypocrite and I call things as I see them. I mean I have no filter and no patience for bullshit, it's a problem XD Also I don't like passive aggressive.

Mostly, I honestly think it was about people being a bit jealous because at some point there were a few newish writers and they didn't get notes (although to be fair it was a fight to get people to interract back at that point) and there was this whole conspiracy that me and another popular writer were sending anons or something asking them for read more and to tag properly (because they were posting about liking pies or something in the tag and it was a messss)... And I mean getting anons was their own damn fault for not doing that in the first place. I remember I sent one or two polite asks (as me, not on anon) requesting they used read more particularly on coconuts and they didn't so I simply blocked them (which apparently made me a bitch who wasn't encouraging new writers but whatever). Then they got anons I guess and they came at me, saying me and that other writer thought we were queens of the fandom or whatever... I never engaged them past that point but there were a lot of passive aggressive posts being passed around to which I replied. Curiously they never tried again after that because I did not mince my words XD It's too bad for them because it wasn't me launching the war (and I don't have minions to do it for me) and they disappeared and I'm still here so...

Could I have handled that situation better? Probably. I don't care much for drama now so I probably would let it slide. I mean... There WAS a situation a few months ago where passive-aggressive was involved and I let slide because it wasn't worth the bother but back then I was young and I didn't like the slandering... Yeah, now I just don't get involved and block. I'm too old for that shit.

[katnissdoesnotfollowback]

As a Queer Woman who “passes” as straight, thank you!!! Bi!Peeta is truly cannon for me. His boundless empathy, shy flirtations and giving heart lead me to believe that he is someone who falls for another’s soul not body.

I honestly find it kind of comical when people tell me, “Really”, “I would never have guessed”, “I couldn’t even tell”. Sometimes I just want to reply with... DUUHHH, were you supposed to??? Like, I didn’t know my pillow company needed to be obvious hahah. I know those comments are meant to be supportive but it doesn’t always really feel that way. It feels as if that person just dwindled my entire being into solely my sexuality.

The comments usually stem from a place of love or curiosity so the hurt is (mostly) minuscule. Genuine curiosity isn’t offensive at all. It’s just fascinating that because we live in a heteronormative society people are so baffled by gender confirming folks NOT being straight hahah. Your Peeta(s) has always been not straight to me because that’s kind of how I read him in most if not all stories. Thank you for the visibility!!! I haven’t read spellbound yet but now I’m even more excited for it❤️!

Thank you for sharing this piece of yourself, @its-just-ellie-always ❤️❤️❤️❤️ In particular what you said about it’s not always obvious. It doesn’t have to be obvious to be real or true.

Like you, I’m not offended by the honest curiosity either, although it can sometimes be tiring to explain it again and again. I’m just happy that there seem to be people who have found that connection with the way I write Peeta, since it is not always obvious, and I can admit that. I know there will be the equivalent to the real life experience “I just don’t see it” response. Anyways, I just want to thank you for taking the time to send this message to me. I truly appreciate it, so much.

❤️ Kdnfb

[lovely-tothe-bone]

*Sigh* Someday I'm gonna catch up on all my projects and I'll be able to make cool amazing things for all the stories. In the mean time here's another last minute rec without anything cool to go with it 😕

Two is Better Than One - @justme-kt

Part I || Part II

Rated M (border E imo just for the sexual content)

On a night out with her friends Katniss bumps into a face from her past she had always hoped would be in her future.

This little drabbley-one shot is in the feels vein of @papofglencoe Mile High, which always deserves a reread too. This is a quick dose of flirty fluff smut. Perfect little gem to perk you up and make your chest all light with Everlark crush giddiness.

Kismet4891 best known for Evolution and Linger but all their writing is fantastic. Unfortunately some are unfinished (Linger & D-D-D 😭) but not these.

Putting Him First Rated E 2k words

Post Mockingjay one shot on a rainy morning when Katniss struggles and overcomes a moment of depression to indulge in her connection with Peeta. Emotional, raw, Everlark love & sex. Packs punch so be prepared for feels.

Purpose Served Rated E

Warnings: Major character death(s), underage, abuse, non con/prostitution, suicide

What if Katniss, Peeta, and Gale were planning to run away from District 12 and were found out?

This is super dark and twisted. Please read with caution.