Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games trilogy.
Set between Katniss breaking her ankle and her finding out about the Quarter Quell. Please, enjoy.
Making Dinner
Koarn stands by the window, looking out.
"Think he's coming today?" Rai asks, walking over to him.
"No. Over her's again."
Rai nods. "I'll just go put some ingredients back then, if we're not cooking for him."
"I'll go clear away his place at the table."
The pair glance at each other before leaving the room.
Later, Rai walks into the corridor by the dining room and sees his brother again.
"Manage to put it all away properly, Rai?" Koarn asks.
"Yeah. Did you put his cutlery back?"
"Yeah."
Silence fills the air as the brothers look at each other and then at the table.
"You never set his place to begin with, did you?" Rai asks and it feels like some sort of line has been breached.
"You weren't cooking for five, were you?" his brother counters.
They try to look at each other challengingly but it doesn't work. Rai shakes his head first. Then Koarn does the same.
"Rai?" he says quietly. "He's not really ever coming back to us, is he?"
Rai looks at the table again. Specifically at the dust which lines one of the chairs.
"No," he answers sadly. "I don't think he is."