Hello everyone! This is my first fanfic. It's just a short conversation that I imagined between Katniss and Peeta just before their interviews with Caesar. I got inspired by that part in the movie since Katniss is so nervous and Peeta looks so pensive. Hope you all enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

x-x-x

Sparkle

Peeta

"You look so handsome, Peeta!" Portia said in her soft voice, fixing the lapel of my coat. "You'll be amazing, I know it!"

I mumble a 'thank you' and manage to give her a small smile. After making sure every button and hair was in its correct place, she presses a fluttery kiss on my cheek and vanishes.

I sigh heavily and try my best not fidget too much. Don't want to give away that I'm dead nervous. Sure, I look handsome as Portia said, but looking good won't be enough. Not this time, especially if I want to protect Katniss. Speaking of which… she wasn't here yet. I assumed Cinna would be the one to escort her down. I briefly wondered how they would dress The Girl on Fire. If the red and orange flames on the sleeves of my coat were any indication, she would probably be wearing flames of some sort.

I hear her footsteps before I see her or Cinna. Except this time they come accompanied by a steady click click that indicates that she's wearing heels. A chuckle escapes my lips, picturing her annoyed expression at having to wear something so foreign to her. I look up as she and Cinna make their way around the corner, to where they'll line us up for our interviews with Caesar and my breathing comes to a halt.

Her dress caught my attention first. It was a long, red and slightly shiny one with jewels at the hem; any slight movement made it seem like there were flames flickering at her feet. My eyes slowly moved up and noticed there was some sort of red tulle flower pinned to the breast of her dress. Feeling my face get hot for a moment I looked away, not wanting to get caught staring. It was then when I noticed some red jewels on her bare left shoulder. The skin at her shoulders looked so soft and I mused if it would feel as silky as it looked. My eyes traveled up her graceful neck and landed on her beautiful face. Sure, she was wearing some makeup but that didn't mask her beauty. If anything, it enhanced her lovely gray eyes and her full lips. I swallowed, feeling my heart pound a bit harder against my chest as I realized her footsteps stopped and that those very eyes were looking into my blue ones.

There was a flash of an unknown emotion in her eyes as she looked me up and down, finally settling on my face. Her lips parted as if to speak but a scowl took over her pretty face and I remembered: I betrayed her. A capitol offense, practically… to her, anyway. Well, not really. I just asked Haymitch to train us separately so I can get my plan rolling. I sighed again, turning away from her yet still watching her from the corner of my eye. Cinna whispered something to her and gently brought his fingers to her cheek in a light caress, sending a jolt of jealousy through me. He murmured something in her ear and then pressed a kiss on her forehead, turned on his heel and left.

She stood still for a moment but then made her way slowly toward me, as if being next to me would cause her impending doom. Looking at the floor, I watched her hem swirl and burn, willing for the strange envy that crept up to go away. It was dumb, really. But I know better than anyone what it really is: I wish I could touch and kiss Katniss like that.

"Hey," she called to me, her voice throaty and uncertain.

I looked up, past the jewels and shiny material of her dress and into her eyes, hardly daring to believe that she was actually talking to me.

"Hi."

I swallow nervously, never looking away from her eyes, afraid that breaking eye contact would shatter our trance.

Speak. Tell her something. Anything! Compliment her. Speak now, Mellark!

"I, uh… you look… amazing, Katniss. Very beautiful. You'll surely blow the other female tributes out of the water," I tell her, hoping I sound soothing.

She blinks rapidly, her long eyelashes fluttering (like the butterflies in my stomach) and to my eternal surprise, her cheeks burn pink. She swallows thickly and looks down at my chest for a moment, almost as if shy.

"Thank you, Peeta. You look… good as well," she says, breathing out softly and bringing her eyes up to meet mine once more but not before biting down on her luscious lower lip.

I sigh inwardly, wanting nothing more than to press a soft kiss on that lip. Instead, I smile kindly at Katniss, feeling my heart burst at the thought that she thinks I look good.

"Thanks. Turns out I clean up well. Didn't know I had potential underneath all that flour and icing," I chuckle as I look down at my shiny black shoes.

Katniss laughs softly and I feel her eyes burn into my face.

x-x-x

Katniss

Look at me, Peeta.

I command him silently to look at me but he inspects his shoes instead. Telling him he looks good is the understatement of the year. He looks handsome. Beautiful. God-like. But still in his Peeta way. Because underneath the hair goop and careful styling it's still him. The boy with the bread. The boy who saved my life and by extension, my beloved little sister's life.

It surprised me when he complimented me, telling me I looked beautiful. But nothing surprised me more than the traitor blush that crept up on my cheeks.

I notice his laces are double laced and I smile. His black suit is crisp and fits him like a glove. The flames that decorate the sleeves of his coat are like the flames on the hem of my dress but to a less sparkly degree. I notice his nails are clean and polished and oddly enough, it looks good on him. His hands are strong and big.

Warm too, I think, suddenly remembering when we shook hands after our reaping.

I look up close at his face and see the ever so subtle magic of makeup. The dark shadows under his eyes are gone. His impossibly blue eyes look bigger, more innocent. To my chagrin, I notice that his lips are soft and pink. I bite my lip again and focus on his hair instead. It's carefully styled, those golden tresses swooped to the side of his head.

I feel a little constriction in my chest and I raise my eyebrow at him, wondering when he's going to look at me. He doesn't look at me how everyone does. People usually look at me with pity or like I'm some kind of strange bird. But not Peeta. His eyes are full of kindness and warmth.

His azure eyes finally look up into my Seam ones and now his cheeks turn pink. I bite my cheeks to stop from smiling and that's when it hits me: I'm going to have to kill this boy.

Cold dread fills my body as I continue to look into those eyes, framed by hundreds of golden lashes. My eyes suddenly sting and I force myself to stop the tears that are threatening to spill. I'm not sure why or how but I feel compassion toward this boy.

He saved your life, Katniss. You're going to repay him how? By killing him?

But that is life. It's a kill or be killed world.

No, no… maybe I'll be lucky and someone else will kill him.

I push those thoughts away from my head and force myself to snap back into conversation with him.

"So… if I may ask. What's your strategy? For the interview, I mean?" I whisper, stepping closer to him so we won't be heard.

His eyes widen for a fraction of a moment and his face turns red but he clears his throat and looks at the jewels on my shoulder.

"Haymitch said I should be self-deprecating, funny. He says I have the natural ability and that I'm likable enough," he chuckles, shaking his head slightly at the memory of having that conversation with Haymitch.

The corners of my lips twist up and I nod, it indeed does sound like something he would say.

"What about you?"

That question wipes what little humor I had in me.

"Haymitch and I tried different tactics… sexy, humble, among with others. But he said that it wasn't me. He told me I had the charm of a dead slug," I frown, looking away and feeling oddly embarrassed.

Peeta stayed too quiet so I dared to peek up at him and he was looking at me with the most curious expression ever. His blazing eyes were focused on me, as if not being able to believe his ears.

"What?" I ask, feeling strangely hot and fidgety under the intensity of his gaze.

He shakes his head and frowns slightly.

"Nothing… just thought he would understand, is all."

I stare at him blankly.

He laughs softly and ever so slightly reaches out to brush his finger on a tendril of hair near my cheekbone.

"The appeal you have. Though I'm kind of glad because then it would be kind of creepy," he chuckles.

I continue to stare at him dumbly but then I feel the warmth of his hand near my face and will myself not to get red faced. I'm about to reply when the other tributes start arriving and so he drops his hand and smiles kindly at me once more, leaving my stomach in knots and that strange constriction once more in my chest.

x-x-x

Peeta

"I'm sorry, Katniss," I whisper, wanting to reach out and take her hand but I don't.

She frowns and it feels as if all the happiness is sucked out of the room.

"Why are you sorry, Peeta?" she whispers back and she's now so close I can feel the warmth of her breath fan over my face.

"The training separately bit. I just… I had to do it," I explain anxiously, wanting to reveal everything to her.

She blinks once and her expression hardens.

"Of course," she says, stepping away from me. "It was all just for show anyway, right? Why bother pretending to be friends when we'll have to kill each other in the arena!"

I reach out to try to pull her back to me but she keeps distancing herself.

"No, Katniss… that's not…"

"It's better this way, Peeta. One less person I feel sorry for when they die," she whispers coldly, though another emotion betrays her eyes and she turns around as they call us to attention.

I sigh and close my eyes, cursing myself.

Way to go, Mellark. Now you've done it. She won't even be sorry for you when you die.

I choke down a sob and take a deep breath and Glimmer takes the stage.

It's better this way, really. With me dead, she has one more chance of going back home. And she will. She's strong. If she can aim at those squirrels straight in the eye, then these humans have no chance…

I straighten up and make myself listen to Caesar and the interviews. There could be something useful information that could be used against them later on in the arena.

Katniss, for the most part, remains still. Until they reach District 11 is when she starts to fidget. She turns her face almost as if to look at me but she stops; I watch her and focus on the sparkly red jewels on her shoulder and back. I want to touch them so badly, to brush my fingers on her warm skin. There is a layer of that red tulle at the back of her dress which makes the top part see-through and I try control my thoughts.

She's probably not even wearing many undergarments… no, stop it! Don't defile Katniss like that. She deserves so much better than that.

As Thresh's interview comes to a close, I can see Katniss' shoulders shaking. She suddenly looks so frail and small that I want nothing more than to protect her. To sweep her into my arms and let nothing bad happen to her.

However, as Caesar calls her name, she straightens up and squares her shoulders. This brings a smile to my face. There she is, the brave Katniss I love. No matter how scared or frightened she is, she'll pull through because she's a fighter and a survivor. As she walks away, I reach out my hand hastily to brush the tips of my fingers against the gems on her back and the tulle material. For the briefest, sweetest moment I touch her soft skin and I feel a strange sort of happiness sweep over me.

I watch her walk away, the jewels on the hem of her dress blazing away… and in that instant I feel the very same fire in my heart.

For her, I must do it all. So she can get a chance to live. Only for her will I declare my love for her when my time comes. So that she can know that no matter what I'll do, it will have been for her.

x-x-x

Thanks for reading! :)