AN : Hey guys ! I'm here because after seeing the Hunger Games Movie, I just fell in love with its universe, and I really had to write this fanfiction, because the idea wouldn't leave me alone! I'm saying in advance, English isn't my first language, and I knew the Hunger Games fandom only from the Movie, the fanfictions I read and Hunger Games Wikia. So if I'm going too OOC, please forgive me.
Anyway, this story is a Peeta centric AU, in which he will have a real backbone. He already had one, but here, he will be…well, you'll see.

Full Summary:
After he saw the girl he loved since he was five, volunteer as a tribute, his world began falling apart. But when her best friend, Gale Hawthorne, was designed as the second tribute, and seeing her crestfallen face, Peeta Mellark made his decision. He will protect Katniss Everdeen and make sure she returns home alive, no matter the price. "I volunteer as tribute!

Voilà, Dawhey

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Chapter 1 : Peeta Mellark

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"Primrose Everdeen!" the 12th District's escort exclaimed in the microphone.

Oh no! Not her! Not Katniss' little sister.

Peeta clenched his fists as he saw the horror stricken face on the little twelve years old blond girl, as she slowly began walking toward the stage. With every step she took, he could feel his heartbeat quicken. He was nearly certain what was coming... And for once in his life he hoped that he was wrong, and that he didn't know the black haired Everdeen that well.

"Prim!" someone cried out as everyone turned in the direction the voice came from. But life in Panem was never fair. It was Katniss, as he had feared..

"Prim!" she screamed again, as Peacekeepers restrained her from approaching her sister. "I-I..volunteer!" she exclaimed, and Peeta's heart skipped a beat. "I volunteer as tribute!" she continued with more force than her first outburst. Not a second later, her little sister launched herself at Katniss with a bone crushing hug.

"No! No Katniss!" Primrose cried out, tears flowing from her eyes. And he had to turn away from the heartbreaking scene.

"Go Prim, go!" the elder sister whispered, hugging the blond girl back. Finally, Gale Hawthorne, her best friend, stepped from the crowd and scooped Prim before slowly walking away from the new District 12 tribute despite the little girl's protests. "Up you go, Catnip." he said with sorrow in his eyes.

Katniss worded a 'Thank you', to which he nodded, after what she walked toward the stage and the escort from the Capitol, Effie Trinket. The woman was weird, wearing eccentric clothes from the Capitol Couture, the make-up on her face making her even more outlandish in front of the poor inhabitants of the twelfth district.

"How wonderful! A volunteer! We haven't had one for about 25 years! So, what is your name?" she asked with glee. She must have been the only person in the surroundings to find the reaping entertaining.

"Katniss Everdeen." the young woman answered, taking on an expressionless mask.

"I bet she is your sister! Don't want her to steal all the glory, do we? Well, come on everybody, let's give a big round of applause to our new tribute!" she continued with enthusiasm.

Peeta clenched his fists even tighter, his knuckles becoming a sick white color. Damn it! Why had it to be her? Why damn it? He had never mustered the courage to speak to her despite his love for the gray eyed huntress. And now, he lost every chance he had. She was a tribute in the Hunger Games, an annual event that opposed 24 youngsters from the twelve districts, in a battle to death for the last man standing. He knew that Katniss was strong and her prowess with the bow was unparalleled, but, by volunteering, she had just signed a death wish. No! He shouldn't have those thoughts! He should have faith in her!

Slowly, one by one, the crowd touched the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and held it out to the young Everdeen. And Peeta followed without hesitation. It was a symbol of respect, a way to say goodbye to someone you love.

Suddenly, the only living Hunger Games' victor from the 12th district, Haymitch Abernathy, stumbled across the stage, and threw an arm around the girl tribute.

"Look at her! Look at this one!" he exclaimed. It was easy to see that he was drunk, very drunk. "I like her! She has lots of...spunk!" he continued with a smirk. "More than you!" he finished, pointing forward and losing his footing, he fell from the stage, knocking himself unconscious.

"Err..well, I think it's time for the boy tribute!" Effie said excitedly, as she approached the second glass ball containing the names of the young boys from the twelfth district. The young Mellark stopped breathing as he saw the escort unroll the piece of paper she just fished from the ball.

"Gale Hawthorne!" she exclaimed for the second time as everyone turned toward the chosen tribute, everyone except Peeta, who couldn't miss Katniss Everdeen's crestfallen face. Her eyes had widened, her mouth was hanging open in a silent cry of despair.

The young baker knew what she was thinking... at the very best, one of them would have to die...

Gale narrowed his eyes, and with agonizingly slow steps, began walking toward the stage.

This couldn't be happening. Why the life had to be so unfair? Putting two best friends in the same arena, in a battle to death? Hadn't the Capitol enough of deaths the natural way? Did they have to make people even more miserable, for, entertainment?

Peeta glanced toward Katniss and his heart sank seeing the helplessness on her usually strong face. She knew that the outcome would be deadly in any way, and couldn't do a thing about it. The young blond haired boy turned toward his right and saw the acceptation on Gale's face as he passed by. He must have accepted his fate, and had decided the outcome...he was going to die.

Peeta had to do something. He unclenched his fists and watched his baker's hands. But what could a baker do to help the girl he loved? Make her bread..? What a joke.. He couldn't do anything. He hadn't had the courage to talk to her even once, and now he was hopping to do something to help her? But one thing was certain, Gale would do everything to help Katniss win the Hunger Games, and in the end he would die too. And it would tear her apart. Seeing her best friend die in front of her eyes, knowing that he died for her sake will completely crush her spirit and the fierce Katniss Everdeen he knew would be no more... No, he had to do something, he couldn't let it happen..

He glanced toward the girl tribute for the last time, and taking a big breath of air, stepped out from the crowd, saying the two words that would change his life forever..

"I volunteer!"

Immediately, his outburst was met with furious whisperings from everyone. But, he paid them no mind, and with strong strides approached Gale, which had only stepped the first step of the stage. His expression was conflicted. His eyes were narrowed, as he turned toward the baker.

"What are you doing?" Hawthorne whispered loudly as Peeta was only a foot away.

"If you die, the Katniss we know will be no more. You have to live." the blond young man answered in a strong tone. Showing a steely exterior, despite his fear and his heart's furious pounding that were making him feel dizzy.

"But I accepted.." began the older boy, but was interrupted.

"I will protect her and make sure she returns home alive..." Peeta said, and without another word, slowly climbed the stairs and approached Effie.

"Oh my! What a good, good, good day we have today! Not only one, but two volunteers in the 12th district! That's the first occurrence, ladies and gentlemen!" she exclaimed with even more glee. And this time, the young man had to agree that it was entertaining. Having two volunteers from the lower districts was unheard of.

"So what is your name?"

"Peeta Mellark." he answered with fake assurance. Here we go. There was no going back now.

"Well ladies and gentlemen, I present to you your two new volunteers, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from the 12th District for the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games!" she said and then turning toward the two youngsters, she spoke again. "Come, shake your hands!"

And for the first time since his outburst, Peeta met the huntress' eyes. He could see the mixed emotions in them. They were hard to read for someone normal, but for him, who knew her for he had watched her since he was 5 years old, it wasn't such a hard task. She was angry, angry at Effie for choosing her sister's name, angry at the Capitol for the unfairness of those games. Then she was relieved that her best friend had escaped the same fate that awaited her. And finally, she was curious and surprised. Curious as to why he had stepped and taken Gale's place. After all, they weren't family and neither were they friends, so the young baker had no reason to die for Hawthorne's sake. And surprised, because she recognized Peeta. He wasn't sure if it was due to the fact that they went to the same school for years, or that, she along with Gale traded their hunted fresh meat for bread, or was it something else..?

The two tributes walked toward each other and Peeta shook Katniss' hand. Hers were warm and soft, like the leafs of the forest she visited so often, as opposed to his big rough ones. And despite his nervousness and stress, he squeezed her hand in what he hoped was a reassuring gesture.

After that, the Mayor began to read the Treaty of Treason, and the young baker completely tuned him out and began really thinking about what he had done.

Yes, he had decided to take Gale's place to make sure that Katniss returned home alive, without having to see her best friend being killed. But it was a rushed decision. He was in no means regretting what he had done, quite the contrary. But by his action, he had sealed his fate.. He was going to die no matter what. No matter what..

But at least now, he had a chance to know her better. It was his only solace in all this mess.

He clenched his fists again. The Hunger Games were really deadly. And even with all his good will and promises, he knew that his willpower alone wouldn't be enough to protect the huntress. Katniss was strong, but he wasn't sure if she was ready to kill to survive... He wasn't. But he hadn't any other choice but to be. If he really wanted to make sure that the girl he loved returned home, he had to resign himself to kill if need be. And it wasn't a comforting thought...at all. But Peeta Mellark had made his decision, and he would be damned if he backed down..

Once the Mayor had finished and the anthem of Panem had ended, the two tributes were taken in custody. They weren't handcuffed or anything, but a group of Peacekeepers marched them through the front door of the Justice Building. Once they were inside, the two tributes were escorted to separates rooms. It was the only moment where the family of the tributes could say their goodbyes before the departure to the Capitol.

Peeta looked around and had to agree that the room was richly decorated. With thick carpets, velvet chairs and couches. He slowly approached the window letting escape a defeated sigh and for the umpteenth time he cursed the Capitol. Suddenly the door to the room opened and he wasn't really surprised to see Gale Hawthorne standing a few feet away from him.

"Why have you done it?" he asked with force, taking another step forward. He was tall, with black hair, and broad shoulders, and seemed to try being intimidating. But Peeta had accepted his fate only minutes ago. So, nothing could really frighten him now.

"I already explained it to you." the backer answered, before returning to watch through the window.

"What is it for you if I die? We're not friends, nor do we know each other that well."

"I'm not doing it for you..." the blond said calmly, meeting Gale's gaze. "I'm doing it for Katniss. If you would have gone to the Hunger Games with her, you would have protected her, but in the end one of you would have to sacrifice oneself. And I think I'm right in assuming that you would have chosen to be the one to die." Peeta explained, and seeing that he had muted the boy from Seam, he continued. "Katniss would never have forgiven herself for being the reason of your death, and it would have torn her apart, completely destroying the huntress we both know."

"I don't understand.. How...how do you know so little, yet so much? And most of all, why are you concerned about it? You don't even know her."

"I have my reasons.. Just accept it." the baker said. "I will protect her and make sure she returns home alive, no matter the price. But don't say it to her. She doesn't have to know.."

Gale frowned. He couldn't understand the boy in front of him. What were his reasons? Why did he want to protect Katniss..? But then, it clicked.

"You love her, don't you?" the black haired boy asked, as the door to the room was opened and a Peacekeeper entered. But he paid him no mind. He needed to know. "Do you?" he asked again.

But the answer never came as the last thing he saw was Peeta's blue eyes before the door was slammed.

"Yes..." whispered the blond baker as he gazed through the window again.

The door opened for the second time and the young man turned toward the new arrivals, his family.

They were all here, even his mother. His two older brothers approached and gave him bone crushing hugs. No words were exchanged between them. But Peeta understood the meaning of the silence, they knew he was doomed. He felt hurt, hurt that his own brothers didn't have faith in him. He knew since the beginning, since he became the tribute, that his chances of survival were very meager, but they could have at last lied to him, to give him some sort of hope, but no...

"Peeta.." his father said as he enveloped him in a hug like his sons. But unlike his sons he wasn't giving out the same feeling. He was distraught, that alone could be seen on his usually smiling face. "Peeta you have to fight..." he continued, his voice cracking a little. "...fight for her...fight for Katniss.." he whispered in his ear, causing the young tribute's eyes to widen.

"I will, I promise..."

"I think that District Twelve will have a victor this year." said his mother, and he was afraid to believe his own ears. Was she really saying that she believed in him..? "Katniss will win.." she finished, and Peeta's heart sank. His face was frozen. He had accepted his death, but hearing his own mother declaring that she believed in someone else's victory. It was a hard blow. He knew all along that his mother wasn't very fond of him, but that was...harsh, even coming from her.

The young tribute clenched his fists and narrowed his eyes as his father released his grip on him. Not a second later the door was opened for the last time and the Peacekeepers escorted his family away, with Peeta standing like a statue. And suddenly, it was like a great weight was lifted from his shoulders, like he was relieved from the pressure. Now he knew that he wasn't expected at home, so if he perished, nobody would really care about it. It had really lifted the weight from his shoulders, but the weight wasn't the only thing that had left him at this moment, everything else with it disappeared, leaving him empty, completely empty...

Peeta relaxed his furiously shaking hands and let them slide by his side, a single tear escaping his right eye.

...and completely alone...

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AN : I hope Peeta wasn't too OOC. But prepare for a somewhat stronger Peeta.
Please review because I really need the support, as I'm launching myself in unknown waters, so to speak. (And I'll need a Beta with a good knowledge of Hunger Games books, so if anyone wants to help, feel free to do so.)
Thank you for reading!
Dahwey