This is my first time writing a Joniss fic. I absolutely adore the ship and can't get enough, no seriously, there aren't enough….So I decided to write one myself. This will be the slowest slow burning molasses burn I could think of. Takes place around the time Katniss and Peeta start to prepare for their second games.

Anyways

Disclaimer: You know, I don't own the sexy…luscious….beautiful and intimidating characters from Hunger Games Trilogy.

Chapter One: Eleutheromania: the intense and irresistible desire for freedom.

Of course I would have to participate in the hunger games again, of course. That's how my world works right? Tragedy, bad luck, risk, disaster. All recurring themes of my life it would seem. I can honestly say I'm not surprised. Snow has had it out for me since day one.

The day I volunteered for my sister for the reaping I would almost call the first day of my life. Every day before then was merely monotonic repetitive survival. Of course afterwards was all about survival too, but it's different. I've met so many people and had so many new experiences that I wouldn't have encountered were it not for the games. Which sounds so twisted in a way, but really, my life was just so fucking…boring…before.

Sneak off to hunt with Gale, hopefully find something, go home, ignore my unresponsive mother, try to keep Prim smiling, and sleep. Those were the basic activities of my daily life.

But after becoming a part of the Capitols fucked up world, my life turned quite interesting. At least I can say that there has rarely been a dull moment.

Currently I am in my room waiting to go to the training center with Peeta, mulling over all these thoughts. I wonder what could possibly be in store for me this time around.

I hear a knock on my door and I immediately answer, "Come in".

It's Peeta of course. Looking at him now gives me a slight feeling of unease; I would maybe even associate it with nausea. In the past, before we had to create this façade of being "the star-crossed lovers from district 12", when I looked at him I would feel a slight bit of admiration mixed with…well…jealousy. Peeta had it much better than I did in District 12. He never had to worry about starving, but he didn't have it easy by any means I know. In the preparations for the first games he sucked it up and went into action. Formulating plans and acting accordingly to survive. Though for him it wasn't acting. It still isn't.

For me this is all some twisted play where I act along with a memorized script trying to make it as believable as possible, but I'm not a very good actress, I know.

"Ready to go?" he always has this look in his eyes when he looks at me. Like he's always hoping I'll come running into his arms and kiss him, telling him how I could never live without him. Gross.

"Yeah, let's go." I'm already dressed and ready, I have been for a while now.

We walk in relative silence with him stealing small glances at me to his side. I can see it in my peripheral but I just ignore it.

Haymitch and Effie are waiting for us when we approach. Effie is not like she was in our first games. I think she has grown to like us, hell, we've all grown to like each other almost as another family.

"Peeta! Dashing as always, careful not to let that handsome smile of yours make all the other tributes swoon! Though maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing, no?" She then looks to me and gives me a once over. "And Katniss…I see some things never change, maybe if you smiled every once in a while then you both could gain some allies for this time around."

"I don't really see the point in gaining allies. One of us willing end up killing the other anyways, right?" I hide my disdain for what I know Haymitch is going to say in reply.

"Well Katniss even if you did smile, what would come out of your mouth would scare anyone who tried away anyway." He says with his signature grin. I can tell he thinks he's hot shit. "But even with that I also think you need to make allies this time around sweetheart. It shouldn't be hard for Peeta, but we all know you. Just…try to suppress some of that amazing charm of yours and be at least slightly courteous and outgoing to the others. You never know who you could find wanting to be by your side." He says this with a serious tone and look in his eyes. I have to suppress mine from rolling.

"Sure. I'll try my best." My eyes fall to the floor because I know that my best isn't very much, and I think they all know it too. Why do we even need allies? I still don't really get it. I thought the games were every man for themselves…well…obviously except for our first games. I doubt there will even be anyone who's going to make me want to be their "ally".

We finally make it to the training room and I immediately spot the weaponry area. There's a bow and I itch to go to it, but I know I need to scope the area first before making a showcase of my abilities. I see in my peripheral that everyone has paused what they were doing for a moment when we walked in. People are scattered at every post just about, working on one thing or another. I see a section with a bunch of ropes and strings, some tied into neat knots and others lay in bundles. There are some hooks and other jigs and things I would assume to be fishing bait. There's an elderly woman working at that table alone(Mags, I think her name is?).

'Well I guess I'll start with the least lethal looking one'. I make my way over to the table.

When I reach the table I pick up one of the ropes and glance sideways to the woman. She is making a fishing hook with a pretty good looking bait attached. It's actually quite amazing for someone as old and frail as she appears to be.

"That's really good. You think maybe you could teach me?" Well that's the best I've got. A compliment and an inquiry for non-hostile association.

She looks up at me and smiles, handing me some string with a hook and a jig. I smile back at her and start following her lead as she picks up new pieces and gets to work. I'm doing a pretty good job at mimicking her actions and my fishing line is coming out well, when I chance a glance up at the other victors. Peeta has gone to the art station and is painting some small designs. There are two people at the fire starting station that looks like a small portion of a forest. Most people are practicing with weapons.

One in particular catches my eye. It's a well-built female with dark brown hair and I can see that she has a few red streaks in it. She's swinging an axe around with well-practiced ease. The way she moves is actually quite beautiful(if you could call such a violent exercise beautiful). I find myself unable to stop looking, and my hands fall prey to my mind as they cease movement on the fishing line.

Then she makes a series of twists and turns with the axe in a formation that my brain can only comprehend as art. She spins around with a final strike down, the axe slamming into the ground. Then her head snaps up and she's looking right into my eyes. I'm frozen for a moment, as if I were caught in the act of something naughty. Which to be honest I've been staring at her for an unknown but probably lengthy amount of time. Her eyes are boring into mine and it feels like I've been set aflame.

Then she smirks at me. Smirks. As if she knew I were watching her the whole time and is trying to say 'Like what you see?'.

I'm the first to break eye contact and turn back to look at Mags.

She's looking at me with a knowing grin and some unidentifiable light in her eyes. I can't help but blush and give a little cough into my hand.

"Sorry I got distracted…where were we?" I pick up the line I was working on and start fiddling with it. She shows me mercy and spares me any further embarrassment by picking up her line and starts working on it again.

As my hands diligently weave the line and bait around I can't help but think 'Maybe there are a few people I'd like to have as allies…maybe.'

Yayy! First chapter done. Let me know whatcha think. Next chapter will be actual interactions with our Joniss lovely's.