A/N: This is a somewhat (read: incredibly) ambitious idea of mine that I'm going to work desperately on actually completing. I'm kind of excited and nervous about this, as it's the biggest thing I've ever taken on. These stories will not be continuous, each chapter will be a snapshot in time. I will mainly focus on Peeta and Katniss, but there will be others from time to time. 100 one word prompts.
Here I go.


Alcohol

After winning the games and surviving the Quell, he understands why Haymitch spends his life in a drunken stupor. He never overindulges like their tipsy mentor, but sometimes it's the only thing that keeps his nightmares at bay.

It's a tall bottle that's not quite full, stashed in the cupboard two left from where he keeps the flour. It is his last resort. The last thing he turns to when everything else hasn't been enough. He can count on his hands the number of times he's drank, but that count is getting up there.

He will eventually have to start using his toes.

It's not often anyone in their house drinks it, he reflects as he caps the bottle and tucks it out of sight for the next time Katniss isn't quite able to chase all the nightmares away. He tosses back the liquid and shudders at the liquid fire.

He is never prepared for the burn.

Setting the glass down, he turns to go back upstairs to bed where he knows he'll lie awake and hold his wife for the rest of the night. He knows he'll catch hell in the morning when Katniss realizes he was drinking. And he knows that her anger will just be an act.

He knows she has her own bottle of liquid courage hidden with her hunting gear.

He doesn't blame her.