Always

by MorningxLight

A little thing inspired by a line in Catching Fire, when Katniss wants Peeta to stay with her, and be with her when the nightmares start. As she drifts off to sleep, he says something in reply, that she doesn't hear. This is just my take on it.

"I want to tell him about Twill and Bonnie and the uprising and the fantasy of District 13, but it's not safe to and I can feel myself slipping away, so I just get out one more sentence. 'Stay with me.'"

Peeta's POV:

I look down at her sadly, Katniss Everdeen, the girl who was on fire, the girl I unwittingly fell in love with. Strong-willed, determined, a survivor. Beautiful. I hold her cold hand in mine until I see her eyelids drooping and can sense her breathing slow. I move to leave, but she utters one last thing before the sleeping syrup takes over: "Stay with me."

"As the tendrils of sleep syrup pull me down, I hear him whisper a word back, but I don't quite catch it."

I give her hand a little squeeze.

"Always," I murmur. And it's true. I will stay with her no matter what, protect her as best I can, even if it means my own death. It's always been that way; it always will be. Even if she loves Gale. Even if she loves no one. Whether or not I am hurting, I will always stay with her.

The boy with the bread and the girl who was on fire; I suppose it only makes sense I'd end up burned.