Author's Note: The Lark's Lament is a M-rated Johanna Mason/Peeta Mellark story. If you don't like the idea, it is probably best for you to turn around now...

To those (few) who remain: Welcome, welcome! I hope you enjoy this pairing which works pretty well in my opinion. And I say that as an Everlark fan! :)

I. Angel of Death

Thirteen year old Peeta Mellark had just received a beating to remember at the hands of his very own mother, when he first laid eyes on deadly but radiant Johanna Mason on television. He had been trying to sneak away from the compulsive Hunger Games viewing on a Sunday afternoon in the town hall with two of his best friends, merchant boys like himself.

In Peeta's opinion there wasn't much sense in watching the Hunger Games in public with the other merchant families. Seam families usually didn't come to the public viewings in the town hall, they were probably watching at the miner's building next to the slag heap. Unfortunately that meant no Katniss Everdeen to keep throwing shy glances at. Admiring Katniss made any day better and would have helped to distract Peeta from watching what was happening on the screen.

The Games were always brutal and there was no censoring, the Capitol made sure of that. He couldn't bear to watch them with all those people around. At thirteen, Peeta and his classmates had just survived their second reaping.

Peeta had nightmares about the Games, especially during the time they were on. There was always blood, too much blood. Bodies torn open and bowels exposed. And the violence, the brutality. He was old enough to be reaped, to be a part in the Games but they still instilled a quiet horror within.

One evening, when he had been seven years old, he had thrown up his entire dinner at home. A tribute had their head hacked off with an axe and the images produced scary nightmares he couldn't seem to get rid of for a long time.

The Hunger Games scared Peeta. Each year - like a clockwork - he was afraid. Afraid that he or his brothers could be reaped, although that was not very likely. He had been much more anxious that he had to watch these horrendous Games on television.

When his mother insisted the Mellarks go to the public viewing, Peeta had been scared that he would embarass his parents by vomitting all over the town hall floor. That wasn't uncommon, other kids had done it before.

His mother shrugged of his worries, probably thinking him a sissy. She wanted the family to be seen in town, they needed to advertise for the bakery. That didn't make any sense, since Mellark's bakery was the only bakery in District 12, but his mother had been firm about the outing.

When a pair of Peacekeepers caught the trio and brought the boys back to their parents, the look in his mother's eyes promised a beating he would never forget. Naturally she wouldn't beat him in in front of the screen, where all could see. His mother smiled at a friend of hers and said something about boys being boys, but Peeta knew she was fuming. He had made Mellark's Bakery the center of negative attention - in public.

When they were back home, his father and his brothers disappeared to unknown hiding places, sensing Mrs. Mellark's wrath. That evening his mother made good use of his father's peel on him, in front of the bakery oven. Later that night she forced him to watch the Games in their tiny living room, standing up, because sitting hurt too much.

That was when he consciously registered seventeen year old Johanna Mason for the first time. She seemed like an innocent, fragile girl. Somehow his heart went out to her. He could identify with her, as she must have been very afraid and alone. Poor her.

When Johanna won the 71st Hunger Games however, she looked anything but frail. More like an dazzling angel of death. Peeta, at thirteen, had not been a very good judge of character. He had been projecting his own feelings about the Games on Johanna, as he imagined himself in her position. Playing the weakling, manipulating people into helping and underestimating her - that had been Johanna's plan all along. She fooled everyone and came out as the triumphant victor. Peeta's sympathy for Johanna turned into unease and he was relieved that he didn't have to watch the Hunger Games for another year, forgetting all about Johanna Mason and her clever strategies.

The next time he becomes aware of Johanna Mason is when he is seventeen himself, a victor of the Hunger Games. Johanna had probably been in the Capitol to mentor District 7's tributes for the 74th Hunger Games. But Peeta didn't pay much attention to anyone expect Katniss Everdeen, knowing he was about to die and creating a plan with their mentor, Haymitch Abernathy to protect Katniss. He had to focus on getting in with the careers, studying the way the deadly group thought and where their vulnerabilities laid.

He doesn't remember seeing any other mentor after the games either, most likely because of the drugs he was forced to take. They removed his leg, and the pain had been strong. Sometimes he still feels an uncomfortable aching in his non-existant leg. His brain hasn't caught up completely with the reality of losing it. What happened after the Games, he barely remembers. Everything went by in a blur.

Peeta knew he wouldn't survive the Hunger Games. They made him sick just watching them, how could he ever be a contender? Even his mother had known the truth. Peeta was too soft for the brutality of it all. He faced it all the same, because the only thing he could do was to help better Katniss' chances. That was all. That he survived had been a miracle.

For a short time after the Games were over he had been in seventh heaven. Quite naively he thought that all he ever dreamt of was about to come true. A relationship with Katniss Everdeen, the girl he had adored since childhood. There would be more kissing. And when they would finally be back home alone, they would do more than just kiss! Away from the cameras and away from the Capitol.

Naturally that didn't work out. When Katniss confessed that she had been acting in the arena that had hurt. A lot. But not more than what came after the Games. Peeta was unlucky. He had had a full blown crush on Katniss before the Games. But during the Games that crush changed into something more. Love had crept up on him. He started to get to know her better and that entailed the real Katniss.

The harsh reality was that Katniss would never love him back. At least not in the way he loved her. He knew that when he saw her and Gale Hawthorne together after her hunting partner had been whipped. All the jealousy in the world didn't change the fact that he was not Katniss' choice.

They would get married, but she loved another. That was a horrible feeling. He was frustrated about it and didn't want the wedding to happen. Katniss was forced to settle with him. He reluctantly agreed to it, to save all their lives, but was torn apart on the inside, hating everything about that fake marriage, starting from that stupid proposal at the end of the Victory Tour to the faked smiles he had to wear for their prep teams and the Capitol citizens.

When the announcement of the Quarter Quell was made, everything fell into place. He felt like he found his mission in life. That this true purpose was a sure death sentence didn't matter much. Making sure Katniss would survive became the most important thing. He stopped caring about himself during that time, knowing that no one would really miss him anyway.

As soon as he talked to Haymitch about going into the arena, he made sure to get tapes of past Hunger Games. Watching as a kid had been appalling. Now he has to watch them from a different perspective. He makes extensive notes about each and every weakness of the victors and studies their behaviour carefully.

He doesn't come as far as watching Johanna's games until shortly after the reaping.

When he is in the train heading for the Capitol, he chooses a tape randomly and that tape turns out to be the one of the 71st Hunger Games. As soon as Johanna's scared face fills the television screen he remembers these particular Games, and his own memories of the beating he received after the public viewing four long years ago.

Watching it now, all his focus is turned on Johanna Mason. She is an excellent actress. Not one of the other tributes suspect a thing when she is crying, bemoaning her fate and sniffing all the time. The Game makers give her a lousy two and even that seems to be a gift.

In the arena one by one they all die like flies. Girls and boys alike, careers from One and Two and the seam kids from Twelve. The one who keeps on living and outlasts them all is weakling Johanna.

She manages to snag an axe, her weapon of choice as it turns out, from the Cornucopia at the beginning of the Games and that alone makes the other tributes and probably even the audience look on in awe. And how she can handle that axe! Johanna has no qualms about using it, and kills all but eight tributes by throwing it around like a boomerang.

After winning she pushes her axe high up over her head and into the night sky while letting out a magnificent war cry. Then Johanna Mason is smiling knowingly into the camera.

In the interview with Caesar Flickerman Johanna turns out to be quick witted and sarcastic. The way she talks is almost rebellious in a way, but Peeta might imagine this, because who would dare to defy the Capitol in the interviews? Peeta can't help but notice that she also looks stunning in an airy violet cocktail dress that clings to her athletic body like a second skin.

Peeta is sure Johanna Mason is one to watch out for in the Quell. She seems to know exactly what she is doing and Peeta feels an all too familiar fear in the pit of his stomach.

He hopes they all trained enough so that Katniss stands a chance during combat. Sighing he turns to the next tape, when Katniss joins him for more watching. Katniss did grow more distant each day during the last weeks and Peeta suspects it has to do with Gale. He wonders if she and Gale did more than just kiss, after the Quell Announcement. He is almost sure they did, as Katniss doesn't visit him in his train compartment at night anymore.

They were always holding one another, helping each other with the nightmares on the Victory Tour. But whatever happened then seems to be in the past. Gone. Katniss keeps her distance and Peeta can't blame her. Sleeping in the same bed would be cheating on Gale and Katniss is just too pure and honest to do something like this to a boyfriend.

This is one of the reasons why Peeta likes her so much. She would never betray the one she chose to be with. If he is honest, he himself cannot really feel betrayed by Katniss, because her love is something he never had. Katniss never promised him anything, and while he thinks that she definitely cares for him, he can feel that romance is a non issue when it comes to her feelings for him.

Admittedly they are in a life and death situation. Who knows how her feelings would have developed if it weren't for the Quell. Peeta suspects he is sugarcoating their relationship in his mind. It doesn't matter anyway, because in a week he is most definitely dead. There won't be more than one victor this time, the Capitol will make sure of that. And what chance does he stand against victors like Johanna Mason?

Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta just step on an elevator cart after the chariot ride in the streets of the Capitol when the real Johanna Mason appears in front of Peeta. She slips into the cart with them, all her focus on the girl on fire. Johanna compliments Katniss, but her voice is cold and anything but genuine. Haymitch just smiles into his hands and Peeta feels like there is a weird tension between the four of them. They are in close proximity in the small elevator and it is kind of hot inside.

Johanna Mason is taller than he is but that in itself isn't exceptional. Even Delly Cartwright is taller than he is. There had been a time when this fact annoyed Peeta to no end. He suspects that he ceased to grow when he was around fourteen and then stopped caring about his height when he was thrown into the Hunger Games. The Games make you sort out your life priorities. Things that were bugging you before turn insignificant afterwards.

Without warning Johanna Mason's cold gaze is on him, demanding his attention and he begins to sweat. Her eyes are dark brown, like the timber her district is famous for. They appear huge and hypnotizing to Peeta. He feels a blush coming, knowing he won't be able to stop everyone from seeing the redness on his cheeks. Why does Johanna stare at him like this?

Then she smiles as if she decided on something and turns around, slowly undressing herself, showing them her bared back. Haymitch chuckles, Katniss gasps in confusion and Peeta cannot believe his eyes. For the first time in his life he is actually in touching distance to a naked woman. The light blush on his cheeks is turning into a firing red when Johanna turns around to face them. He can only stare back at her, consternated.

At first Peeta tries to keep his gaze at her head, concentrating on her dark spiky hair but the grin she is sending his way seems to taunt him, daring him to look. So look he does. His eyes travel down her body and take her all in. Her skin is soft and light and seems to glow from some sort ligneous smelling, oily lotion. Her apple sized breasts look firm and conical shaped with her pink nipples pointed straight towards Peeta, whose hands start to twitch.

It is hot in the elevator, so why does she look like she's cold? Peeta suppresses a groan as he feels an erection forming against his tightly fitting pants. He is thankful to Portia that the material doesn't seem to be elastic. No one will see.

Curiosity overwhelms him and his gaze travels further south. Johanna is not hairy between her legs but not completely bare either. Her stylist left a short protective stripe of brown soft hair over her mound. It is covering up her womanhood so unfortunately he cannot make out much in the dim light. Her legs are long and shapely and when Peeta's gaze arrives at her slim ankles clad in a pair of high heels, the elevator door beeps once. His eyes are back at her face and she winks at him, turns around and leaves the elevator, her hips swaying. Peeta catches one last look at her tight bottom before the door closes in front of him.

He curses inwardly at the weakness of his body as they arrive on the twelfth floor. He is still erect. This was all a big show to intimidate and to tease Katniss. It seems to have worked because Katniss is miffed at the behaviour of the other victors. Haymitch tries to calm Katniss down, but she is so offended that she leaves for bed immediately, not wanting to see any of them. Peeta is equally as eager to get away, returning to his own room.

He paces around the room, trying to make his erection to go away through sheer willpower. Why did Johanna's focus turn on him when she wanted to get a reaction from Katniss? Could she be interested in him?

Peeta feels a bit star struck by the events of the day. Seeing these famous victors up close was so surreal - they said hello to Finnick Odair! Finnick is very popular - there were even girls at school in Twelve who fancied the handsome man from District 4.

And now Johanna Mason, a Hunger Games victor.

Peeta has never been the center of real female attention. He suspected that thirteen year old Elena Baghouse, the grocer's youngest daughter, had a crush on him, for a long time. She always blushed when he passed her at school and she came to the bakery regularly, obviously trying to get a glimpse of him. But Elena was just a little girl.

There had never been a girl his own age and definitely no older woman. What would Johanna Mason actually see in him? Or is she trying to confuse him? After all they will be in the arena together in a few days. Maybe she already worked out some clever strategy, focusing on the victors she deems weak.

Calming down doesn't work even after he brushed his teeth and changed into a pair of light pajama pants. Impatiently he lies down on the bed, pushing one hand into his briefs. He is angry that even in such a situation, with only a few days left to live, his body still insists on satisfying this more primal urge.

When he masturbates he usually doesn't think much, doesn't have concrete thoughts of anyone. Not even of Katniss. Masturbating is only a way to get his body to calm down and to finally fall asleep. That makes it even more surprising when, instead of vague female shapes and warm colors, all he can think of is Johanna Mason. Her hair, her eyes, her breasts. And her vagina. Clenching down on him. He groans, jerks once and comes hard, suppressing a loud moan which would surely have been heard all through the hallway, if he hadn't been biting on his lip.

What was that? He looks down at his body and can barely comprehend what just happened. He never comes as fast as that. Ashamed he seeks refugee in the bathroom, taking a very cold shower.

It doesn't help though and he isn't able to fall asleep. Sighing he makes his way out of his room, heading for his usual place on the roof top. Maybe he can work on a strategy, an idea that forces the president to rethink the Quell.

He makes his way to the small bench that overlooks the city when he notices that someone is already there. Feeling uncomfortable with the company of an unknown person he turns around to make his way back to the elevator as quietly as possible.

"Wait a minute," a female voice calls. Stupid artificial leg. He will never go anywhere unnoticed again.

"You're Peeta, Peeta Mellark, right?"

He turns around. It is Johanna Mason and that fact alone makes him blush, after what he did earlier. She is most definitely not naked now, wearing a fuchsia colored jumpsuit.

He nods, "Yes, that's me. Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you."

She beckons him to come closer and says, "I'm Johanna, Johanna Mason, as you already know." She winks at him. "And don't you worry, you're not bothering me. In fact I'd love some company after this terrible day of forced smiles and fake hand shakes."

Johanna smiles at him and he can't help but smile back. She doesn't seem so intimidating in the soft light of the full moon. Johanna is smaller now and Peeta sees that she is wearing no heels. They are practically the same height and that is comforting.

"Sit down, sit down. It's not every day I have the opportunity to talk with Peeta Mellark, lover boy of the famous girl on fire. This is my chance to get to know the man behind the smile," Johanna grins at him.

Peeta feels a sudden urge to deny that he is Katniss' lover, he wants to tell Johanna that their romance is fake. But he is Katniss' fiancé for real and it won't do him any good if Johanna knows they're only pretending.

He sits down on the bench and asks, "How long have you been here?"

Feeling nervous at being so close to her, he catches a whiff of an airy fragrance, maybe hyacinth. She must have showered.

"Oh, a few hours already. Don't tell anyone, but this is my secret spot. I came here a lot in the week before my Games."

"Me too! Last year I was so nervous I couldn't sleep and when I found this place, it was just perfect. I think it's really beautiful, all the greenery and the colors. Like a small oasis. And you can actually see the sky," he laughs and then stops himself.

Peeta is not sure how much he can actually say to Johanna without giving too much away. They are playing a dangerous game of life and death and maybe she will manipulate him, like she manipulated the other tributes before.

"Boo then, I guess. I thought myself special. That I was the only one who discovered the top floor. But it is closer to level 12. It makes sense for you to come here. Where is your sweetheart? Shouldn't you both be here, serenading each other on a romantic moonlit night like this?"

"She's not my sweetheart," he says before he can stop himself. Johanna raises her eyebrows and makes a motion with her hand, indicating that he must be careful. The Capitol is listening, everywhere at any time. He nods, hinting that he understands her warning.

Johanna seems to be alright. She worries about him saying the wrong thing, which is kind. Hesitantly he asks her about her home, District 7.

"The woods look beautiful, you have a lot of amazing landscapes there. After we visited I drew a dozen sketches of trees," he says.

"Oh, yes, I heard that's your talent. You should show me a painting of yours when you have the time. Well, the District is as thrilling as ever. All those trees and all that timber. Can it get more exciting than that? The Capitol is a real bore if you compare it to the fun fair that is District 7!" Her eyes are twinkling and he chuckles.

"What do you do all day in your Victor's Village? Do you live with your family?" he asks, wanting to know more about Johanna.

She blinks once and answers reluctantly, "No, I don't live with my family. My family is dead."

Peeta pales. He should've thought of that possibility before asking Johanna about them. Her family might've been killed by the Capitol, like Haymitch's family.

"I'm sorry," he whispers.

Johanna shakes her head, which makes the pair of golden earrings she wears tingle against her neck.

"You don't have to be. It's not some tragic story. Actually it has been only me and my mother before I got reaped. I don't know who my father is, my mother never told me. My mother, well, she could only work in physically less demanding jobs as she had been sick as long as I can remember. There are not a lot of these jobs in the timber industry. I had to take tesserae, starting with my first reaping. It's a wonder I only got reaped at seventeen and not before."

Peeta stares at Johanna. Not a tragic story? What she told him just now is the very definition of a tragic story. Being a child born out of wedlock is looked down upon, especially in the Districts. These kids were bullied and tormented enough without having a sick parent.

"She died a few weeks after I came back home from the Games. We barely had time to decorate our new house together," Johanna sighs.

"My mother and me we were quite a pair. She had been only sixteen when she became pregnant. We were more like sisters and never had that classical mother and daughter relationship. I really do miss her."

Johanna rubs her eyes, which turn red rimmed as a result.

"It is better this way. She doesn't have to suffer anymore and she was spared from having to see me go into the arena a second time. She would have died from the shock of the Quarter Quell Announcement. And as a plus point I have a huge house all to myself now. I can do whatever I want! Like running around naked."

Johanna grins at Peeta, who is too baffled at what she just told him to react at her teasing. He doesn't even wonder for one short second if the tale of her dead mother is really the truth. He feels that it is. There is no lie in Johanna's words on this rooftop tonight.

He always pitied Katniss' and thought her situation unfair and harsh. But Katniss has the love of her mother, her sister and Gale. Being all alone in this cruel world is the worst thing he can imagine. He wants to offer some comfort to Johanna and starts to reach for her, when she interrupts his gesture.

"So, Peeta Mellark, after I basically told you everything there is to know about me, it is your turn. I want all the dirty details," she smirks.

"Dirty details? There are no dirty details, I'm afraid. I'm only a baker's son from District 12 who got lucky and survived the Games, although the odds were definitely not in my favor."

Peeta has to be careful, he cannot let it slip that Katniss is just pretending to be the girl who is head over heels in love with him, that they are not star-crossed lovers.

"You live with your mommy and daddy in the Victor's Village? Got any siblings to share all the wealth with?"

"I have two older brothers. The oldest is not in school anymore and will take over the family business. My parents still live in town with both of my brothers as they have to keep an eye on the bakery," Peeta says, feeling down, thinking of his own family. His parents told him they didn't want the bakery to be unattended at night, while he suspects that they just didn't want to move to the Victor's Village.

"I wanted to move back home, but as the Capitol had this wonderful huge house all set up for me who could've said no to such luxury?" he grins at Johanna, knowing she would understand his little dig at President Snow.

All the victors have to move to their respective Victor's Village after the Hunger Games, no exceptions.

He had asked his mother if he could sleep at home every now and then, missing his family and the company. She refused. They had already burned his childhood bed in the ovens, making room so that his brothers could finally each have a bedroom of their own.

The Hunger Games made Peeta realize that he hadn't been as loved as he thought. His parents certainly had provided him with food and shelter, but one would more likely receive a beating than a kind word in the Mellark household. His father didn't hit him, but he had always preferred his first born son. And the middle Mellark brother didn't care about anything but his own success at the wrestling club in school. His family had not suffered that much when he was reaped and he doubts that they would've grieved for long had he died.

"Good thing that they didn't move in with me. I think they wouldn't appreciate being forced to move out again after just one year. What an inconvenience," he adds in a mocking tone. Johanna looks thoughtful.

"I guess, you don't think you're going to return," she says.

He nods. There is no use in pretending. Even if she survives this, he won't. It might even be that Johanna already has a plan set in motion, a plan to kill him. He is so tired about it all and having to kill the other victors is something he can't bring himself to think about as it makes him feel even more exhausted.

He likes Johanna. She is funny and easy to talk to. And it has nothing to do with her looking absolutely perfect in the nude.

She moves closer to him and he is fascinated by her big dark brown eyes. Her pupils almost seem to eclipse the irises.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Peeta Mellark," she whispers, almost silently. She kisses him tenderly on his lips. All the sadness is blown away in an instant as Johanna deepens the kiss by using her tongue to gain entrance to his mouth. He returns the kiss hesitantly and feels his body reacting to her for the second time today.

Just as he is lifting his arm to embrace her, Johanna stops the kiss. He must look ridiculous, with flushed cheeks and wide eyes.

Johanna looks cool and collected and smiles at him. She stands up and turns towards the elevator, walking down the path slowly, swaying her hips as she goes.

Halfway down she turns around and says "Good night, Peeta. I'll see you tomorrow," in a loud voice, so that every bug on the roof catches it. And then she is gone.

Peeta doesn't understand what just happened here. Johanna Mason kissed him on the mouth. And it wasn't as innocent as the kisses he had shared with Katniss in the cave. There had been a hidden passion, a promise of more in that kiss.

Why would Johanna kiss him? She wanted to kill him, didn't she? Peeta forces himself to stand up and go to bed. He has to be in the training center in a few hours, and he doesn't want to appear too weak due to fatigue.

Dawn is breaking over the buildings of the Capitol when Peeta finally falls in an uneasy sleep. He dreams of trees in full bloom with fuchsia colored petals, growing high into the blue sky of District 7.