AN: Hey guys! Thank you for reading Guardian Angel, the favs, alerts and most of all, reviews! A particular thanks to RousseauLives that pinpointed a few formatting errors to me. Thank you! And with that I say enjoy, and hope you like it!
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Chapter 3 : The Plan
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Peeta opened his eyes and stretched his limbs with a yawn. He hadn't had a very good night of sleep. His late discussion with Katniss was better than expected, but it wasn't a good thing for his new plan. He had hoped to make her hate him, but after he saw her yesterday, his resolve just plain and simply crumbled. Katniss Everdeen had that effect on people…
Finally he decided that he needed to freshen up, so without wasting more time he walked in the showers.
Fifteen minutes later he exited the bathroom with a towel around his waist and began browsing the clothes. After a while he decided to put on a red top and black long shorts. And as he placed the chosen clothes on his bed, a cry of surprise startled him and he turned around to face the door, nearly dropping the towel. There stood Effie, with a new bright pink dress and a matching wig, her right hand on the door's handle, and her left, covering her open mouth. Peeta actually remarked that her face was matching her clothes in color, she was blushing madly…
"Effie! Could you stop starring..?" asked the young baker, as he unconsciously tried to cover himself with his free hand. Then, as if waking from her stupor, the escort shook her head and the same happy smile she wore all the time reappeared on her face.
"I just came to call you for breakfast," Effie said, laughing, and after a wave of her hand, she left the room, closing the door behind her.
With a snort he took his clothes and dressed up. And watching himself for the last time in the mirror, he left for the dining room. Once he traversed the corridors, he was again the first to arrive, so he took the same place a yesterday. Slowly, he began filling his dish with rich food, he was quite famished.
A few minutes later, his mentor entered the compartment and without saying anything, sat down across the baker. Peeta smiled after seeing Haymitch's skin. It was still pink.
"The color suits you. It highlights your…ehm…eyes," the tribute said, a slight smirk appearing on his face, making the man growl.
"Shut it, smartass.. You're lucky that I'm still not entirely awake or I would have handled your ass to you on a silver plate.." Abernathy said with a dark edge in his voice. The tribute's smile only widened. Maybe this man wasn't a completely lost case.
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***.
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Katniss closed the door to her chambers behind and followed Effie Trinket to the dining room. Strangely enough, she had had a good night of sleep. She didn't know if it was due to exhaustion or her discussion with Peeta. Speaking of the baker, he was sitting at the table with an easy smile plastered on his face, directly across Haymitch, who was launching a dark look toward the boy. What was that about?
The escort from the Capitol approached the boy tribute and whispered something in his ear. Katniss wasn't able to hear what she had said but it must have been something awkward, because the blond baker blushed a deep red, nearly matching Haymitch's skin…Wait! What?
She slowly walked toward the others, closely watching their mentor. Indeed, the man's skin was pink.
"What happened to you?" she asked, sitting at the table head. She wasn't really worried about Haymitch's wellbeing, he was a disgusting bastard, but like Effie had said, he would be the only one that could help her...and Peeta, once they're in the Arena. Without saying that she was curious about the reasons behind his condition.
"He had had his tryouts for the Capitol Couture yesterday, but sadly, they weren't interested in him." Peeta answered, surprising the two women in the compartment. Katniss raised an eyebrow at the boy. Was the baker responsible for Abernathy's skin color? "Said something about him having no idea 'about televised behavior'…" he finished, at the end doing a good imitation of Effie's capitol accent, and launching a wink in the woman's direction. The escort laughed as Haymitch growled and took a flask from his vest. The olive-skinned girl couldn't stop the smile from forming on her face, then she looked at the cup in front of her.
"They call it hot chocolate," Peeta said. "It's good."
The Everdeen took a sip of the hot, sweet, creamy liquid and a shudder ran through her. It was the most delicious drink she ever had. So, even if the rest of the meal on the table was very inviting, she ignored it until she drained the last drip of the hot chocolate. And as she took her eyes away from her now empty cup, she saw the baker watching her with a smile. She blushed a little and averted her eyes, before filling her dish.
They continued to eat in silence until a now full Katniss spoke up.
"So, you're supposed to give us advice," she said to their mentor, who was drinking some alcohol from a glass in his hand.
"Here's some advice. Stay alive," the man answered, bursting in laugher. He is really an insufferable idiot, Katniss thought, exchanging a look with the baker. And as she watched him, she was surprised by the hardness in Peeta's eyes. That was strange for the usually mild boy.
"That's very funny," he said, and with a rapid wave of his hand, the glass that was in Haymitch's hand was sent flying to the other end of the compartment, shattering in thousands of pieces. "Only not to us," he finished.
The reaction didn't make itself wait, as Abernathy punched Peeta in the jaw, knocking him from his chair. Seeing this, Katniss was overflowed with rage, and the next thing she knew, she was driving her table knife in the table's wooden surface, just between Haymitch's fingers, causing Effie to cry out in fear. But the olive-skinned tribute paid her no mind, as she launched a deadly look to their mentor that could only mean: Touch him again, and a wasted glass of alcohol would be the last of your concerns. Katniss didn't know what had gotten in her to react like that. She was angered when Abernathy punched the baker. But why, was a good question.
"Well, what's this?" the man said, a smirk appearing on his face. "Did I actually get a pair of fighters this year?"
Peeta rose from the floor and scooped a handful of ice from the table and as he was approaching it to his sore jaw, Haymitch stopped him.
"No. Let the bruise show. The audience will think you've had a fight with another tribute even before you've made it to the arena.
"That's against the rules," the baker remarked.
"Only if they catch you. The bruise will say you fought someone, you weren't caught, even better," the mentor explained. "Can you hit anything else with a knife, besides the table of course?" He continued, turning toward the other tribute.
She had to admit that the bow and the arrows were her weapons, but from time to time she had to use the knife, so she knew how to handle it. Yanking the blade from the table, she threw it toward the wall across the room. She was hoping to just get a solid stick, but it actually lodged itself between two panels, making her looking even better than she really was.
Haymitch nodded and proceeded to tell them to stand in the middle of the room, as he began circling them, checking their muscles, examining their faces.
"Well, you're not as helpless as I thought. You seem fit, and once the stylists get hold of you, you'll be attractive enough," he concluded. "Alright, I'll make a deal with you. You'll not interfere with my drinking, and I'll stay sober enough to help you. But you have to do exactly what I say."
"Fine," Peeta said, but the way Katniss heard him say it, was like he had no intention to do so. And it was another strange occurrence. But she paid it no mind for now.
"So help us," she began. "When we get to the arena, what's the best strategy at the Cornucopia-.."
"Wow wow wow, one thing at a time," Haymitch interrupted her. "In a few minutes we will be pulling into the station. You'll be put in the hands of your stylists. You're not going to like what they do to you, believe me. But no matter what it is, don't resist."
"But-.."
"No buts. Don't resist," he finished, before taking a bottle of alcohol from the table and walking from the car.
Peeta frowned at this and began following the man.
"Where you're going?" Everdeen asked the young man.
"I think I'll have a few words with our…mentor," he answered, the same hard edge in his voice. She didn't question him further, so he left the compartment and walked toward Abernathy's chambers. Once he was in front of the door, he raised his hand to knock, but then changing his mind, he simply opened it. It wasn't closed as he had expected. The man himself was lying on his bed, the bottle still in his hand.
"What is it, boy?" Haymitch asked, raising an eyebrow.
"My name is Peeta, not boy…" the baker said in a somewhat dangerous tone.
"Oh, you're no longer as funny as this morning. What got your knickers in a knot?" his mentor asked again, taking a sip from his bottle.
"You have to help us."
"I already said that I was-.."
"Help us seriously!" Peeta exclaimed, interrupting him.
"I'll do what I can," the man said, taking another sip of his alcohol.
"You can do more this time. You can be the mentor that will bring victory to the 12th District," the young tribute continued.
"Oh yeah, and why?" Haymitch asked, getting more and more annoyed with this discussion.
"Because we have an advantage this time."
"Care to explain?"
"We both know who will win this Hunger Games…" Peeta said, slowly approaching the bed.
"Oh, let me guess.." the man said quietly. "You…"
"Katniss," the baker corrected him, surprising the man. "Because you have an Ace in your sleeve.."
"An ace…? And what would that be?"
"Me," simply answered the blond boy. And seeing the questioning look his mentor was launching him, Peeta decided to elaborate. "I never said why I volunteered… The only reason I'm here, is to make sure that Katniss Everdeen wins the Hunger Games and returns home alive."
"Are you saying that you volunteered to participate in a deadly Battle Royale to make sure that, that girl wins, and by the same way, you die…?"
Peeta only nodded to his interpretation. Haymitch blinked several times in shock. Was this boy for real? He had volunteered…to die. And it was like it wasn't even fazing him at all.
"Well then, what have you in mind?" the man asked, now sitting up and putting the bottle away. The boy's words had sobered him almost instantaneously.
"Like I said, I'm your Ace. Find a way to use me and assure Katniss the victory. I'll do anything you say," the baker said with determination in his eyes.
"Alright, Peeta. Go prepare, we're nearing the Capitol. I..I'll think of something, I promise." Haymitch said, and nodding, the tribute left the room.
The man sighed and put his head in his hands. Whatever Katniss had done to merit this boy, she sure was a lucky, lucky flower…
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*****.
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Peeta hissed in pain, as a pink haired woman from his prep-team, yanked a strip of fabric from his torso, tearing the hair beneath it. "Sorry!" she exclaimed with her ridiculous Capitol accent. "But you're just so hairy!" she continued, making the young baker roll his eyes in annoyance. The three hours he had passed in here were a pain in the ass, literally… And the only person he could blame for this was Haymitch, even if Peeta knew that it wasn't his fault. After all, they needed to look good for the first introductions. "Finally, the last one!" the woman continued, tearing the last strip.
"Come on, you can stand up now," the only man in his prep-team said, even if it was really difficult to distinguish the different genders apart. The young baker did as indicated and tried with all his might to fight the blush from coming. After all, he was standing there, completely naked, as his prep-team circled around him making ridiculous comments about his body.
"I'll call Portia!" the pink haired woman said, as she rapidly walked away, with a little bounce.
A minute later a new woman entered the room. She was young, in her early twenties with blond hair. She wore a black dress, with matching black lipstick, and purple-pinkish eyeshadow. And the baker had to admit that she was beautiful when she approached him, a smile on her face.
"Hello Peeta, I'm Portia, your stylist," she said, shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you," the tribute replied, as she began circling around him, not unlike his crazy prep-team.
"Well, the 12th District is lucky this year to have such a handsome young man as tribute," the woman said, stopping in front of him. "I'm sure sponsors will be lining up for you once the Opening Ceremony is over after with Cinna planned for you two, believe me," she continued, and seeing his questioning look, she elaborated. "Cinna is my friend, and Katniss' stylist. He is the one that came with the idea for your costumes."
"So we will be in coal-miner costumes?" Peeta asked with dread. It was an awful attire.
"Oh goodness no! That thing is so overdone. No one will remember you in it. And our job is to make the District Twelve unforgettable," Portia explained. "So instead focusing on coal mining, we're going to focus on coal itself. And what do we do with the coal? We burn it," she continued. "Say Peeta, you're not afraid of fire, are you?" she asked with a smile, and seeing the tribute's face, her smile only widened.
A few hours later, he was dressed in what would be the most sensational or deadliest costume of the opening ceremonies. The baker was wearing a black unitard that covered him from ankles to neck with shiny leather boots that went up to his knees. But it was the fluttering cape made of streams of orange, yellow, and red and the matching headpiece that defined this costume. Portia had said that Cinna was going to light them up just before their chariot rolled into the streets. "It's not real flame, of course, just a little synthetic fire Cinna and I came up with. You'll be perfectly safe," she had said when his worry began showing on his face. But the tribute was still not convinced about its safety.
Finally the other tribute from the 12th District arrived accompanied by her stylist. Katniss was dressed in an identical costume, but whatever his prep-team or Portia said about him being dazzling in it, he knew that next to the olive-skinned young woman he looked like a stack of coal. She was gorgeous…
"Hey." Peeta said with a wave as she approached him. "I see you have survived the torture," he continued, mentioning their prep-teams that were going completely crazy about their costumes.
"Hi," she replied with a small smile. "Yeah, it was horrible. I don't want to ever repeat that experience."
"I second that," the baker said with his own smile.
"What do you think?" Katniss whispered to him. "About the fire?"
"I'll rip off your cape if you'll rip off mine," Peeta answered through gritted teeth.
"Deal,"
Mellark knew that they had promised Haymitch to do anything that their stylists said, but he wasn't sure that being barbecued was a good thing before even entering the arena.
"I know we promised Haymitch we'd do exactly what they said, but I don't think he considered this angle," the Everdeen said, as if reading his thoughts.
"Where is he, anyway? Isn't he supposed to protect us from this sort of thing?" the young baker asked, raising an eyebrow.
"With all that alcohol in him, it's probably not advisable to have him around an open flame," Katniss remarked. And after looking at each other for a second, they both burst in laughter.
Suddenly, the opening music began and massive doors opened to reveal the crowd-lined streets. Portia had said that the ride would last about twenty minutes and end up at the City Circle, where they will be welcomed, listen to the anthem, and would be escorted into the Training Center, which will be their home until the Games' beginning.
The tributes from the District 1 rolled out in a chariot pulled by snow-white horses, the complete opposite of theirs coal-like black ones. The two tributes looked beautiful, in tasteful tunics glittering with jewels. After all, District 1 was doing the luxury for the Capitol. And after hearing the roar from the crowd, it was easy to see that they were the favorites. They were always the favorites.
Rapidly enough the 2nd District's tributes followed, and in no time it was their turn to go. And when the tributes from the 11th were just rolling out, Cinna approached the two teens, a lighted torch in his hand.
"Here we go then," he said, and before they could react he set their capes on fire. Katniss gasped, probably waiting for the heat, but there was only a faint tickling sensation. Cinna climbed up before the two tributes and ignited their headdresses. He let out a sign of relief. "It works." Peeta's eyes bulged out. 'He hadn't even tested the fire beforehand? Was he crazy?' he asked himself, but then he rolled his eyes. Of course he was crazy. Who would send two tributes in the Opening Ceremony, ablaze? Only a crazy man.
Cinna gently tucked a hand under Katniss' chin and spoke up : "Remember, heads high. Smiles. They're going to love you!" Then he looked toward the baker and an idea popped in his head. "Hold your hands during the ride," he said, getting from the chariot.
"What?" the olive-skinned young woman asked, as if she hadn't heard him.
"Hold your hands!" Cinna exclaimed doing hand gestures, as the chariot began rolling out.
The girl tribute glanced toward Peeta, and not a second later, the baker was holding her hand, a slight smile on his handsome face.
Finally they entered the city and the first reaction from the crowd was one of alarm. But it quickly changed to cheers and shouts of "District Twelve" Every head was turned toward them, pulling the focus from the three chariots ahead of them. Peeta could feel how tense was Katniss, if the way she was clutching his hand was any indication. He wasn't faring better himself, but when he caught sight of them on a large television screen, he was shocked by how breathtaking they were. The firelight seemed to illuminate their faces, and they seemed to leave a trail of fire with their capes. Finally, the Everdeen looked like she fought her fears and began waving with her free hand and blowing kisses. The people of the Capitol were going nuts, and Peeta couldn't disagree with them… Katniss Everdeen was the most magnificent creature he had laid his eyes upon. And as he waved with his free hand to the public he still couldn't turn his eyes away from the girl he had loved ever since he was five. After a few minutes in this dazed state, he turned away from her and gave all his attention to the crowd. He had to attract sponsors after all.
And he was sure that by the time they arrived in the City Circle, all the attention was focused on them. He could only hear shouts of "Katniss" and "Peeta", and their faces were nearly on all the giant screens. They were really the stars of this evening. Cinna and Portia had done their job outstandingly. Once their chariot began slowing in front of President Snow's mansion, he could feel Katniss' loose grasp on is hand, and instantaneously he tightened his grip around hers.
"No, don't let go of me," he said, the firelight flickering off his blue eyes. "Please. I might fall out of this thing," he continued with a shy voice. In reality, he just refused to let go of her incredibly smooth hand.
"Okay," she said, turning toward him and tightening her grip.
The music ended and the president gave his official welcome on his balcony, just above them. It was a tradition to show the faces of the tributes during the speech, but Peeta could see that the two tributes from District 12 were getting more attention, and he smiled even more at this. In conclusion, the Panem anthem began playing and the chariots moved again, doing the final tour around the circle and disappearing in the Training Center. The baker remarked that again, they were the center of interest and nearly all the cameras were on them.
Finally they entered the building, and as soon as the doors were closed, the two tributes were engulfed by the prep-teams, babbling out prize. As Peeta glanced around he could see that the other tributes were shooting them dirty looks, and it confirmed his suspicions, they had outshone all of them. Not long after that, Cinna and Portia arrived, with the later using some sort of a spray to extinguish the fire from the costumes.
Peeta felt Katniss' stiffen finger open, and releasing her, he began massaging his hand, she had had a tight grip on him after all.
"Thanks for keeping hold of me. I was getting a little shaky there," he said.
"It didn't show," she told him with a smile. "I'm sure no one noticed."
"I'm sure they didn't notice anything but you. You should wear flames more often," the baker continued. "They suit you," he finished, with his own smile. And that smile only widened when he saw her blush a little. But he was more than surprised when she stood on tiptoes and kissed his cheek, right on his bruise. He wanted to scream out of joy. Katniss Everdeen had kissed him! But then a wave of dread chilled him to the core. That wasn't good, not good at all. She shouldn't attach herself to him. It was dangerous for his plans. Nevertheless, he let it slide, but only this time.
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******
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Peeta was standing in his quarters on the twelfth floor of the Training Center, and he had to admit that they were enormous. It was even more luxurious than the tribute train, with even more gadgets than he thought he could use. He walked toward the bathroom and let escape a groan. There were even more buttons on the panel of the showers. Architects from the Capitol really loved to mess with his head. Rolling his eyes he discarded his clothes and entered the showers.
Something like fifteen minutes later he exited it, water still dripping from him and began browsing through the clothes he had in his disposition. He picked a grey, low-necked pullover, a black jacket along with black trousers and shiny black shoes.
Watching the clock on the wall, he saw that he still had half an hour before dinner, so he decided to get some fresh air. Peeta left his quarters and began walking toward the main room, but on his way to it, he stumbled upon stairs. Stairs that were going up, but they were already on the twelfth floor so why-… Oh..The roof. With a slight smirk on his face, he soundlessly walked to the roof. And strangely enough, nothing or no one tried to stop him. So they were allowed to go on the roof. Which was strange, because it would give the tributes an easy way out from the Games : suicide. Finally, when he arrived on the said roof, he had to admit that the scenery was beautiful, the whole city of the Capitol could be seen, even if the winds where a bit loud for his liking. Slowly, he approached the border but a voice startled him.
"There are magnetic fields around the roof for security measures, if you're asking yourself."
The baker turned around and spotted the young stylist, Cinna, standing to the left, nearly masked by the shadows. He had an easy smile on his face, but Peeta could see a calculating look in his eyes.
"Came to get some fresh air?" asked the man, walking toward Mellark.
"Something like that, yes," the baker answered, looking around. At the far corner to his left, was a small garden illuminated by different colored lights. The sight was beautiful, but he wanted to see it closer. Cinna looked in the same direction and spotted the garden.
"Let's go, it's even better up close," he said, walking toward it, slowly followed by the tribute.
And indeed it was better. And the blond cursed himself for not having something to sketch on. He really wanted to draw the magnificent garden.
"What is it?" the stylist asked, as if seeing his distress.
"Nothing…It's just.. I..wanted to draw the scenery. I haven't drawn since before the Reaping. I, kind of, miss it," Peeta answered truthfully. The man smiled and putting his right hand inside his jacket, took out a little notepad with a pencil.
"Here, take it," Cinna said, handing him the block of paper. "I always have one on me. You know, being a stylist and all, you never know when a crazy idea pops in our head."
"Crazy ideas, indeed," the baker said, thinking about their Opening Ceremony outfits. "Thanks," he continued, taking the notepad.
"I know, I know," the stylist laughed shaking his head. "But it worked, hasn't it?"
"I can't disagree with that," the blond tribute whispered loud enough. Then, leaning on the wall, he began sketching the garden, his mind easing a bit by doing something he loved.
Time passed by as the two men stayed in a comfortable silence, with Cinna watching the horizon, lost in his thoughts, and Peeta, drawing.
"Why have you volunteered, Peeta?" the stylist finally asked, breaking the silence. But the young blond continued on with his work, without even acknowledging the question. "I could easily say that you and that, Gale, weren't friends. And by what I understood from Katniss, you two aren't friends either. So what was your reason?" the man pressed on, wanting to find the truth about this whole ordeal.
Peeta finally tore his eyes from his drawing and looked Cinna in the eyes. The older man frowned when the baker approached him and without uttering a word, gave him the notepad back, before walking from the roof.
Cinna examined the drawing and had to admit that the boy had talent. He had reproduced the gardens perfectly, and using only a pencil. But then he remarked that there was something extra on the sketch, or more precisely, someone. Katniss was sitting in the middle of the garden, a happy smile on her face and a lone dandelion in her hand.
So that was his answer…
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******.
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A dozen minutes later, the whole team was seated around the table and was savoring the delicious Capitol food. Even Haymitch was with them, sober, what was even more surprising. And Peeta had to agree that the presence of the two stylists had a civilizing effect on Haymitch and Effie, if the way they were addressing each other decently was any indication. They all were having small talks about the upcoming trials, when a girl set a gorgeous-looking cake on the table. The patterns and colors were really a work of art, and he himself being a specialist in frosting cakes, he could see the outstanding work on it. The same girl then lit the cake and it blazed up and after a few seconds the fire flickered and died out. Katniss seemed interested.
"What makes it burn? Is it alcohol?" she asked the girl, frowning a bit. But then her eyes widened and she exclaimed : "Oh! I know you!"
Instantaneously the temperature in the room dropped by a few degrees, and the baker watched as the four adults were eying the olive-skinned girl like she was crazy.
"Don't be ridiculous, Katniss. How could you possibly know an Avox?" Effie snapped. "The very thought..."
"What's an Avox?" Katniss asked, as Peeta sat straighter, he was interested in the answer too.
"Someone who committed a crime. They cut her tongue so she can't speak," Haymitch explained. "She's probably a traitor of some sort. Not likely you'd know her."
"And even if you did, you're not to speak to one of them unless it's to give an order," Effie said. "Of course, you don't really know her," she continued, matter of factly.
"No, I guess not, I just-" Katniss stammered and the blond boy could see the worry in her eyes.
"Delly Cartwright. That's who it is," he said snapping his finger. "I kept thinking she looked familiar as well. Then I realized she's a dead ringer for Delly," he continued, hoping that his fellow tribute would catch on what he was trying to do.
"Of course, that's who I was thinking of. It must be the hair," she said, and Peeta released the breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Something about the eyes, too," the baker continued, to make it even more credible. It worked because the tension in the room got back to normal and they finished the dinner in relative silence. After that, they moved to the sitting room and watched the replay of the opening ceremony. For the second time this day, Peeta admired their outstanding display, especially "The Girl on Fire", like Cinna now called her.
"Whose idea was the hand holding?" Haymitch asked suddenly, seeing their intertwined hands.
"Cinna's," the baker answered glancing in the stylist's direction.
"Just the perfect touch of rebellion," their mentor continued, a smirk forming on his face. "Very nice."
Rebellion? What is he talking about? Thought Peeta, but then he remembered that the other tributes weren't holding hands, they were standing apart, never touching or acknowledging each other. So Katniss and himself had really distinguished themselves from the others, they showed that they were friends and not adversaries. Something rarely seen, if ever.
"Tomorrow morning is the first training session. Meet me for breakfast and I'll tell you exactly how I want you to play it," Haymitch said to the two tributes. "Now go get some sleep while the grown-ups talk," he finished with a wave of dismissal.
The baker stood up and silently followed the olive-skinned girl away from the room, and they walked to her quarters. As Katniss approached the door to her room, Peeta leaned on the wall next to it.
"So, quite a surprise finding Delly Cartwright's lookalike here, in the Capitol," he stated with a smile. He could instantaneously see the worry in her eyes. She was hesitant to talk about it, that alone was easy to see.
"Have you been on the roof yet?" the blond asked, suddenly having an idea. "Cinna showed me. You can practically see the whole city. The wind's a bit loud, though," he continued trying to make her understand that they wouldn't be overheard there.
"Can we just go up?" she asked, and Peeta smiled.
"Sure, come on," he said, and led his fellow tribute to the roof. Once they were there, the baker smiled at Katniss' expression. He had had the same marveled reaction when he had seen the scenery for the first time, too. And as she moved toward the railing at the edge of the roof, Peeta explained that the Capitol had taken precautions to 'protect' the tributes from falling from the roof. He smiled at her bitter laugh and led her toward the garden. At seeing it, a real smile appeared on her face, and after a moment that seemed like an eternity, she finally began to relate her story. How she, along with her friend Gale, had been hunting like usual in the forest and stumbled upon two kids that were running away from something. A boy and a girl, the same girl that was now an Avox. Katniss continued, saying that a hovercraft had appeared out of nowhere killing the boy and capturing the girl, before disappearing in the same manner.
To say the truth, Peeta was a little disturbed by the story. Why would they have to run away from the Capitol? But then he thought about it, and had to admit that he would have fled the place too if he had lived here. The Center of Panem wasn't really a cozy place. It was oppressing, scary even. Yes, he would have fled too. Suddenly he remarked that the girl next to him shuddered.
"You're shivering," he said, before taking his jacket off and wrapping it around Katniss. At first she looked like she wanted to refuse his kindness by taking a little step back, but then she let him cover her with the cloth. He observed her in silence for a while and remarked the look of longing she had. She was away from District 12 only for a day, but was already homesick. 'Because she has people to whom to return to. She has a reason to live, and I, have a reason to die.' he thought sadly.
"Don't worry Katniss, you'll return home soon enough." Peeta said, with a sad smile. But his smile froze in place and his heart constricted on itself, as he saw the calm face on the olive-skinned huntress morph in an angry frown. What had he said to make her angry? "What is wrong?" he asked with caution.
"How can you behave like this? So carefree, so…resigned? Less than a week from now you'll have to fight for your life in the Arena, yet you're here, trying to ease my pain. You should better think about a way to survive this whole ordeal instead of trying to be kind to me!" she cried out launching him a furious glare.
"Can't you understand it Katniss?" Peeta exclaimed, not liking in the last how she was trying to make him change his mind. "I wasn't chosen as a tribute, I volunteered! I volunteered to come here Katniss! It was my choice!"
"Did you think that by taking Gale's place, you would make it easier for me? Because killing you would be easier than killing Gale!" she cried out, standing only a few inches from his face.
"Yes Katniss! That's why I volunteered!" the baker shouted back. "You wouldn't be able to kill him, but I, I'm no one to you. No one!" he finished turning away.
"You're an idiot!" the olive-skinned girl exclaimed before storming away from the roof.
"Argh!" Peeta cried out hitting the wall with his foot. She was so frustrating! Why did she have to be so stubborn and refuse his help? He had accepted to die for her and she was refusing to even acknowledge his sacrifice? It didn't matter either way. Whether she wanted it or not, he would do anything to make her return home alive.
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With a sigh he left the roof and walked to his quarters, only now observing that Katniss still had his jacket. Opening the door to his room he switched the light on and nearly jumped out of his skin, Haymitch was sitting on his bed, a bottle of alcohol in his hand.
"Finally, boy! I thought you'll never finish talking to sweetheart," he said with a grin.
"What are you doing here Haymitch? I'm not in the mood." Peeta said, before lying on his bed and covering his head with a pillow.
"Oh, then prepare to get even worse, boy. Because I'm here to talk about 'the plan'," the man answered turning toward the tribute. That instantaneously caught the boy's attention, who rapidly sat beside his mentor.
"So?"
"Now listen carefully." Abernathy began. "Tomorrow, as I said earlier, I will talk to you both about how to behave during the week you'll be in the Training Center. It would be the official discussion of course. Because what I'm going to say to you now is what you'll do."
"Continue…"
"First of, what are your talents?" the man asked.
"Erm..baking?" Peeta lamely answered.
"Something useful, idiot!" his mentor reprimanded.
"Well, I…I'm quite strong. I won the second place in the wrestling competition in my school last year," the baker said after a few seconds of reflecting. "I'm used to lifting hundred-pound bags of flour, if that means anything."
"Oh, yes. That's what I thought. Good!" Haymitch exclaimed, clapping his hands together. "Every day you'll train together with Katniss at the Training Center, and when I say together, I mean you don't leave her for a minute. Got it?"
"Yeah."
"You two will work on things you're not used to do, like using a weapon in your case, or even climbing trees. You won't show your real talent to the other tributes. It has to come as a surprise. And every evening, I'll come fetch Katniss, to work on her behavior, interview and strategy for two hours, thus giving you time to train alone."
"Why?"
"You'll go to the Station with weights. Train with them," the man said.
"Why can't she be with me when I train with weights?"
"Because she would only be a distraction. You would need to focus. You have to become stronger to protect her. And you can't evolve with her at your side all the time." Haymitch answered.
"OK, but how would I train? I mean, what can I do?"
"Lift them. Launch them. Get a better aim. But make sure you use your strength at your best. There will be dummies. Try destroying them with the weights, starting with the smaller ones and then going up to heavier," Abernathy explained.
"Alright, got it. But what if the Careers are there and can see me?"
"They won't be at the Training Center when I'll fetch Katniss. The other mentors will be working on strategy with their tributes. You'll be alone in there," the man answered. "You'll do that the whole week and when the time comes for you two to show your prowess to the Game-makers, you'll have to go all out. You need to get the best score possible. Better than Katniss and the Careers."
"What? Why? I mean, I know it's a way to attract sponsors but-…"
"It's a way to attract sponsors, I agree, but my reasons are different. I want you to make the Careers notice you. They take it as an insult when a tribute of the lower districts makes a better impression on the Game-makers than them. If you succeed in this, they will all go after your head," Haymitch said.
"Charming…"
"That means that Katniss would have better chances at surviving." his mentor explained. "And while they chase you, you'll dispose of them one by one."
"But they will outnumber me!"
"Then outsmart them! They are too sure of themselves, and that would be their downfall," the man continued with a dangerous smirk. "That's why you'll have to train like crazy during this week. It's your only chance."
"Alright, alright. I'll do as you said. After all, I asked for your help," Peeta said with a sigh. "But there is still a small problem."
"What?"
"What if Katniss refuses to kill me once we're the only ones left?" the baker asked. "Because I'm not sure that I'll have the courage to cut my own neck…"
"I have thought about that, too. You'll have to go to the Plants Identification Station. There will be many deadly plants in the Arena." Haymitch answered, taking a picture from his jacket and launching it toward his tribute.
"Look closely and memorize it Peeta. The Game-makers like this one a lot, so there is a good chance that you'll stumble upon it in the Arena," he explained. "So if sweetheart refuse to kill you, this will be a good way to make her the victor."
"What are those?"
"Nightlocks…"
.
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AN: Hey! I really hope you liked this chap and how the story is coming up. Please, please review! Even if it's just to say "update". It pushes me to write faster!
Dahwey