An extended drabble? Is that what it is called?
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Nightlock
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There was no fear, no hesitation. He has regret, but only for the sake of Katniss. If only he could've convinced her to move on, to win. Instead her she was, against his back cupping her own handful of berries, softly counting down the seconds before the end. "Ready?" he hears her whisper, and Peeta nods as he jostles the berries around in his palm. "On three. One. Two. Thr-" And he's tossing his head back, throwing his palm forward, and tilting the berries back like a handful of pills. They play in his mouth, bouncing on his tongue. He's breaking the skin of the first few berries when he hears it, the sound of Claudius' voice over the speaker system. But the words are jumbled, as if Claudius' speaking through a fog. Peeta struggles to hear him as he's repeats his words, but still understands nothing. Then Katniss is grabbing his arm and shaking it, screaming. Her mouth moves rapidly forming multiple words at once, but their coming out slowly as if someone's pushed the play-by-play button on the television set. Peeta sways on his feet, his body rocking like a boat on rocky waters. He reaches for Katniss' arm and she catches him beneath his armpits.
"Peeta?"
He shakes his head, tries to clear the fog. The air feels tense, and for a moment Peeta wants to laugh, because he guesses everyone in the Capitol must be holding their breath and clutching one another, as they have their Avox's fetch more microwavable popcorn. He's dying, isn't he?
The feeling in his toes has gone, their lifeless below him.
"Peeta," he hears Katniss bawl, a rarity he remembers as he's never seen her cry, especially on camera, "Please don't go, Peeta."
But where's he going? What was he doing again? He's right here. He tries to tell her that, his fingers entwined with hers, "I'm right here Katniss, I'm right here."
His eyes are heavy now. Has he been sick? He must've missed some sleep. A quick nap couldn't hurt, no, just a short one.
"I'm tired Katniss," he murmurs, "I'll see you later okay? After I wake up?"
She tries to reply. Tries to say something comforting. But all she can do is nod.
Too bad he doesn't see it.
