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They were standing in his kitchen. It was the first time ever she came into his new house and he was worries and excited.
His family was at the bakery, selling low priced baked goods to everyone. Ever since they'd won it wasn't such a big problem for his family to do so and it made him, his father and brothers glad.
She, on the other hand, she was confusing him. They'd kissed in the arena, it was for the show but it still hurt when she started ignoring him when they got back. He was in love with her, for crying out loud!
Now here they were, in his kitchen a few months later. The Victory Tour is two weeks away and he was worried and excited.
She was shaking, her gray eyes wide and her olive skin paler than usual, the usual after the Games.
"Is this what you would like to do if there were no Games?" she asked him all of a sudden.
"Yeah, it's definitely something. I'm not as good as my dad, but I'd like it, you know?" he answered a little confused.
She just nodded her head, her shaking turning into tremors and tremors calming down, all in the warmth of the clearly often used kitchen.
The thing is, he loved everything about her, and he loved watching her. She was… well… they got that right at least, she was and IS The Girl on Fire; and yet it isn't enough and it's just perfect all at the same time. It gave him headaches at times and he blamed her perfect imperfection for that.
But really, what more could he do, what more could he say to get her to just look at him, just that. He was well aware that he was nothing like that Gale she was so fond of, he knew all about the dislike between the merchants and Seam folk, but she was a child of one such union. Just thinking about it drove him mad!
He sighed. She looked at him, her face set in an unreadable emotion and eyes filled with worry.
It was about time he stopped with this torture he made for himself and accept that the only time they will be together was on screen for the crowds of Capitol. It was time but he just wanted to ask her once just once… he hoped and yet he didn't. Great, now he was confusing himself.
"Hey, Katniss I…" he tried to get the word out of his mouth but found it difficult.
"Peeta… why?" at his confused look she elaborated, "Why did you agree to eat the barriers with me, you could've killed me, you could've let e eat them in my own… so, why?"
"I… you see… I liked you Katniss, I really did and I still do." He stopped her when she intended to speak and continued, "You are so strong and you work so hard and do your best and give your best and you're just so you. What's not to like, a determined girl who does what she can for her family, you're a fighter and a survivor and strong… and pretty" they smiled at the last word so he continued, "and vulnerable" she sobered at that while he looked at her kindly and amazed, "and it makes you so perfect and perfectly imperfect if that makes any sense… and you were kind to a merchant boy when you didn't have to be… I'm just sorry I couldn't have done more to help." He frowned but continued despite the something in his throat feel, "And I don't think I could've been able to live with myself if I had killed you, I would've gladly died in you stead protecting you, or if only you had killed me… those two would've been deaths I wouldn't have minded, not one bit." He finished and looked away, afraid to look at her and continued to knead the dough.
She frowned at that, she was terrified the entire time, he was the strong one, the quiet kind of strong and she liked that. He wasn't like Gale, she loved the boy-turned-man but Gale and Peeta were completely different. One grew up with her in the Seam and lost his father the same day she did and the two of them became the providers for their families. Peeta was a merchant boy who grew up in a bakery, he was strong, second only to his brother in strength, he was kind and good and he killed when he so hated what they were making him become for their own sick amusement.
Peeta was strong; she just wouldn't have thought that someone like him could be. He isn't just strong; he made her feel safe, secure… Yeah, she was falling for him and it terrified her; she promised never to fall in love, never to marry, never to have children, not after her father died and then the Hunger Games… yeah, sucks to be from a district.
"Katniss" Peeta began, still working on the dough, "I know you like Gale and that the two of you are close, but I…" his words failed him again and he took a deep breath and soldiered on, "Katniss, I… would you…"
She interrupted him and whispered, "I'm afraid of falling."
He looked at her startled and saw a softness that he'd seen only directed at her sister and now it was directed at him, her smile shaky and small, almost not there, but it was genuine and it reached her eyes, there was a little fear as well and it all made her even more beautiful in his eyes.
His own smile brightened the whole kitchen when he answered her, "I'll catch you"
They both laughed at that, her laugh soft and quiet but happy and there and his was louder, jovial and it was just so Peeta, exactly like he should always be.
So yeah, it was quirky and dorky but it was them; and Katniss never lied before, not to him and he was just so happy and he'd do anything to keep her safe and happy, even if it meant killing ten living and even dying, than he had no problems, he could do that. For Katniss… he would find the way to get the stars out of the sky if it meant her happiness, the sun and the moon weren't safe either, but he'll tell her that some other time.
He then threw some flour her way and they started a flour war and they laughed and enjoyed and baked together, forgetting for a moment what awaited them in two weeks' time and acting like kids for once.
And Katniss agreed, she could live like that, it's definitely something and totally worth it, he was worth it.