Written for the Caesar's Palace monthly prompt "Lights will guide you home; and ignite your bones; and I will try to fix you", inspired by the Coldplay song and assigned by HeyJude95. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fix you, Coldplay, or anything related to either of them.
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The nightmares. The cries. The sobs and screams of the dead. It's too much to handle. She can't take it.
But she's trapped; she can't leave her own mind. So she's forced to relive all the deaths. Finnick, Prim, Rue, Boggs, Cinna. Fire-girl burned down to the gray ashes, with not even an ember left to burn again.
They drift apart, too consumed by guilt, sadness, and anger to talk. They tried their best, but can't succeed. They got what they wanted, but not what they needed.
One day, he goes out into the woods. This home has too many memories, and the springtime scents of the primroses are too much to handle. Too much.
It rained last night, and the slightly salty scent of the rain drowns out everything. Good. Peeta knows that the blooming primroses grow in this forest.
He steps into the woods, the green leaves and deep shadows of the dawn reminding him of a certain person. The one who hunted with Katniss in this very wood. He still has jealously, although he's not proud to admit it. On those days where she's staring out the window, he wonders if she's yearning for Gale. Out there in District 2, with some fancy job. Who knows where he went?
A tap on his shoulder. He turns around to see a pair of gray eyes looking at him.
"I saw you leave. I wanted to follow you." Katniss says simply. He nods, and they fall into silence, watching the mockingjays fly overhead.
She whistles four simple notes, and the mockingjays pick up the call, repeating until it forms a haunting chorus. With the four notes alternating, it's beautiful.
Suddenly, Katniss lets out a sob. "It reminds me…"
"Of Rue." Peeta finishes sadly. Tears come to his eyes, and he pats Katniss on the back, comforting her.
She looks up. "There was this song I used to know…" She trails off. "A folk song. From the Seam." She starts to sing. "Light will guide you home, and ignite your bones, and I will try to fix you," It's a haunting, beautiful melody. The mockingjays take it up, turning it into just another bird song.
"It's true, y'know." Peeta says, "There'll always be someone there for you."
"Not always."
He kisses her suddenly. "Yes."
They walk back home, nightmares gone (for today), and Katniss can see tiny lights. She knows they're just fireflies, but she smiles anyway. Perhaps life can be better.