This is sort of hand in hand with Starting Fires. Both AU and both Peeta and Katniss' different perspectives on their relationship. Different times, though.
Chasing Fires
I open the door and see Katniss, with that anguished look on her face that she wears only when she truly needs something. I don't pretend to have thought she'd come. I don't pretend that I want to talk with her at all. I just look at her and wait for her to start.
"Peeta, I know. You hate me and you have every right to and I know that I'm not going to be able to change that and I'm sorry that I've got you into a mess like this. I should have just- I'm so sorry. But I need your help," she said, quickly and nervously, in a babbling tone that I never thought she'd take on. I want to tell her that she's wrong. That I could never hate her. That this mess was my fault, not hers. But I don't. I don't say any of that because, for once in my life, I can't find the words.
"What happened, Katniss?" I asked, voice steadier than I could've imagined.
She breathes in slowly and calms herself down. "Snow. He was there when I got home. Said that there has been," she lowers her voice, "mentions of uprisings. He said that it was our job to- to convince Panem, and him, that we're still in love. Our families are at stake."
"Your family, including Gale. I don't see a good reason for me to protect him, or for him to want you to."
Her eyes narrowed, and I knew that I struck a nerve. "Then fine, you don't care about my family. Them aside, what about yours?"
"I didn't say that I don't care about your family. I don't want Prim or anyone getting hurt any more than you do. But you're going to have to come up with a better reason, or else Snow's not going to believe you."
She scowled, but she nodded. "Any suggestions?"
I paused for a minute, before offering her my hand. She took it, albeit hesitantly. "I'm Peeta Mellark. I like the color orange, like the sunset. I double-knot my shoelaces. I paint, bake," I pause for a minute, trying to think of anything else to add. Then, I smile slightly. "And I like to sleep with the windows open. Nice to meet you." We walked together, hands still intertwined.
She laughed before responding, "I'm Katniss Everdeen. I like to sing and I hunt. My family lives in the Seam. I love my sister Prim more than anything in the world. I hate owing people. I'm usually in a bad attitude. Have you heard that I'm apparently inciting a rebellion?"
"No, I haven't. Sounds interesting, though," I chuckle.
"Nice to meet you," she replied.
"I don't think I was given much a chance. The Arena's not a place to fall in love."
She laughed bitterly. "Some would say the odds weren't in our favor."
"Some would say they still aren't."
"I'd agree with them."
"I'd say they aren't all that optimistic."
"I could agree with that too," she replied quietly.
"But it'd be a lot easier if we started out friends, Katniss."
She looked up at me, tentative. Then, to my immense relief, she nodded. "You make a good friend."
"I feel like our standard of 'good friend' is incredibly messed up."
"Whoever doesn't stab us in the back is an amazing friend, so I'd agree."
"I would never stab you in the back, Katniss Everdeen."
"And I will never stab you in the back, Peeta Mellark," she said, and then shook my hand with a laugh.
I looked down at her. Though I knew that she was happy now, it wouldn't last. She was a fire spark and she'd burn out again and hate everything about me and what we've gotten into. But I'd be alright with that. Because that's what I do. I forgive her and we make up and we make it through it. Because that's what we do. That's what we'll always do.
We'll spend our lives like that. That's how I'll spend my life. Chasing fires.
