Savior

Chapter 4

Authors Notes:Thank you to all the wonderful people who have reviewed so far! I love hearing what you think and I am constantly trying to improve my writing so constructive criticism is more than welcome. This chapter and I did not agree initially, but I'm pretty happy with the end result. I hope you enjoy it.

Katniss: Home Sweet Home

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"I think it's time you introduced your lover to your family… don't you?"

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Katniss Everdeen tapped absently on the train's metal table as she watched the districts fly past. She was happy to be finally heading home, but her joy was tainted by the President's hand in the trip. His indisputable request had been delivered with a smirk at dinner just the night before. It was unexpected and the short notice meant Peeta and she had not had time to escape to one of their sanctuaries where they could talk it over. She felt unarmed and unprepared because Peeta's insight was almost as effective as her bow.

"Stop that!" Effie's shrill voice snapped, "You'll ruin your nails and Octavia is holding me personally responsible for physical condition."

The victor's lip twitched as she remembered Peeta's explanation of the Escorts presence. 'He will surround us with people that you know and love in order to take control. If we do anything wrong – he will hurt them.' She caught his eye, a tight sadistic smile on her face. He gave her a stern look and she sighed, rolling her eyes and folding her hands neatly in front of her.

They had been together for just over a month and had already perfected the art of silent conversation. It suited her – she was horrible with words. He on the other hand had mastered the art of speaking and seemed to charm everyone he met. Effie adored him and Octavia's clique constantly babbled about how wonderful he was. Even Cinna, who had been employed by President Snow as her personal stylist, had been won over by Peeta's kind words and patience.

Katniss let out a small sigh; she doubted that he could win over District Twelve so easily.

Large hands dropped onto her shoulders and she flicked her eyes up to meet his. He smiled reassuringly, seeming to sense the direction of her thoughts. She let her eyes dart back to the scenery out the window as he tenderly rolled his thumbs along the muscles her upper back . "We're nearly there" She told him quietly. "It will be good to see everyone"

And once again the unease twisted in her stomach as the unanswered whys invaded her thoughts.

"They will be happy to see you too." Peeta replies with a haunted smile. "Actually, Effie just told me that your Mother and Sister have been moved to the Victor's Village to live in your house. I was thinking that it might be best if I stay with Haymitch for the trip. I'm not sure your mother will appreciate it I disappear into your room every night."

"No, I imagine she won't" Katniss agreed with a small frown. She wasn't sure how she would sleep without him next to her and she didn't want her Mother and Prim to carry the burden of her nightmares.

The young woman closed her eyes as he pressed into a particularly stubborn knot at the bottom of her neck. "Press harder" She mumbled quietly, feeling a slight blush cross her cheeks as she wondered what her Mother, Prim or Gale would think If they saw her encouraging him to touch her. They certainly were comfortable with each other now.

It wasn't that surprising really. The arrival of her beauty entourage had come with the appearance of a number of peace-keepers whose primary purpose was to keep them under constant scrutiny. They were the reason for all warm embraces, tender kisses, and affectionate words that had been exchanged between them over the past month. She blushed a little harder. All right, so, maybe not ALL of them, she admitted silently. The peace-keepers never seemed to be watching during the night after all.

Katniss swayed in her seat as the train began to slow. He lifted his hands from her and she opened her eyes. They were pulling into the station and she couldn't contain the smile when her eyes found the slanted and dusty old sign which simply read 'District Twelve'.

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Katniss had been correct in thinking that the people of her home town would not welcome Peeta to their home. When Effie introduced him in her airy Capitol accent, their response had been an empty and defiant silence. The District stood together in its disapproval of his presence at her side and, to her surprise, she found that it irked her. She was just about to yell something at them all, something that probably would have led the President to blow them off the face of the Earth, when he chose to speak – saving her once again.

"District Twelve - Coal" Peeta started sadly, "As a citizen of the Capitol, I will honestly admit that we rarely consider this simple association much further. But even if we did, we could never really comprehend what it takes to survive here". He paused letting his words resonate with the audience. "We will never understand the bravery it takes to delve into the dangerous depths of our earth. Nor will we truly appreciate the resilience it takes to endure when coal quotas aren't quite met." Katniss felt a chill as she remembered the month long food shortages that were imposed when the miners just didn't mine enough. She gaped at him, surely this was some sort of blasphemy.

"And we will never know of the lives lost in the search for the resource that powers our world." Katniss felt anger and fear run through her veins. Once again she was hanging off his words, amazed that he could break through the crowds resolve and afraid of the consequences of his influence.

Peeta glanced at her and met her eyes. He smiled reassuringly, silently telling her to trust him. "But… recently we have finally gained a glimpse of something incredible, something that no one can quite comprehend, something that has us reeling with confusion and undeniable respect. " He smiles, his eye flicking momentarily to Haymitch. "We've realised that where there is coal – there can be fire"

Something must have passed between the two men because suddenly she was shoved forward and her hand was pulled into the air. "Our girl on fire!" Haymitch yelled and the crowd erupted. It took a moment for her surprise to pass before she grinned, her earlier anger and fear forgotten. It was nice to be home.

It was with that thought still floating in her mind that her eyes fell upon the little girl who was standing at the front of the crowd. Her blonde hair was in two pretty braids, her eyes were sparkling with happy tears and her grin spanning from ear to ear.

Katniss was moving in a heartbeat and the girl ran forward to meet her. They crashed into each others arms with tears pouring down their faces and laughter on their lips. "I've missed you!" Prim cried happily, "Thank you for coming home." She buried her head in the Victor's shoulder.

"I promised," Katniss said simply, letting herself drown in the relief that flooded through her. She closed her eyes, content in knowing that her sister was safe. The victor smiled, thinking that home was certainly where her heart is.

..

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Peeta: Dangerous Games

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"Sir – there seems to be some trouble at the Everdeens. Could we have your permission to intervene…"

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"No!" Peeta snapped coldly at the peace-keeper who had been assigned as his minder for the duration of his stay in District Twelve. The tall, dark haired man was the worst sort of peace-keeper – coldblooded, vindictive and merciless: a snake. And Peeta was stuck with him, literally; the disgrace of a man was always two steps behind him, no matter where he was. "I'll sort it out Zane," Peeta told him as he folded the newspaper he was reading and put it neatly in amongst the bottles scattered over Haymitch's coffee table.

"That is inadvisable sir," Zane stated as he tapped on the screen of his tablet.

"I don't care whether you think it's advisable," the young man retorted, getting up from his seat.

"Your Father…" Zane started

"I don't give a fuck what my Father thinks is advisable," Peeta hissed.

The man clears his throat, clearly furious that he was not allowed to respond to the anti-Capitol comment. "No, your Father is on his way – he had been visiting District Eleven but…" The peace-keeper stopped when he realised that the young man was already out the door.

Peeta practically ran into the Katniss' house. He slammed the door and locked it behind him before walking into the mayhem that was the Everdeen kitchen.

"STOP, JUST STOP!" Haymitch yelled, "You don't know everything – so stop pretending you do. You're not doing anyone any favors!"

"Who do you think you are old man?" Gale Hawthorne, a familiar face at the Everdeen house, shouted, enraged. "Aren't you supposed to bring the tributes home? I suppose considering your track record I shouldn't be too surprised… but I thought you would have at least tried to protect her from becoming the Snow's whore." The District Twelve mentor stumbled back, his face contorted with guilt. Peeta flinched at the implication.

Katniss' fist connected with Gale's cheek and the eighteen year old staggered backwards into the bench behind him. "Shut up Gale," she growled dangerously, fury glowing in her eyes. "You know better than anyone that we can't talk like this here!"

"Katniss" Her mother breathed. The older woman went to move to her, her arms outstretched but was blocked by the District Twelve escort who decided to join the party.

"This needs to stop" Effie intervened standing awkwardly between Gale and Katniss. Her eyes flickered nervously between the two of them and her mouth was twisted into a frown. "You can't act like this... it's not right."

"No!" He spat at Effie before rounding on Katniss. "The Capitol has ruined you. It's all about what you can't do now!"

Katniss was shaking with rage. "It was always about what I couldn't do Gale. I couldn't run away, I couldn't get married, I couldn't have children. I couldn't because of where and how we lived. Nothing has changed!"

"Please stop fighting," Primrose Everdeen's begged from behind her mother, tears budding in her eyes. Peeta sighed inwardly knowing that he had played a large part in causing this mess. I should never have agreed to this, he thought frustratedly.

"You left us all, you left your sister. Just like your mother did, like you said you would never do. Did you even fight for us?" His had lowered the volume of his voice but the bite was still present. Katniss looked like she had been slapped.

"Just shut up!" Haymitch spat as he flung his glass at the wall.

"Not until…"

"They hurt as much as you do?" Peeta questioned cutting the dark-haired man off. He walked in knowing that he had already let too much be said. He should have barged into the conversation sooner. "Because that's the real reason for this mess, isn't it."

"You..."

"Need to shut up!" Peeta snapped cutting the handsome man off for a second time as he walked over to the microwave. He pulled a metal clip out of his pocket and slipped it over the pins of the electrical plug before stuffing it back in the power outlet and switching on the power. There was a bang, and everything went black.

"We have five minutes before the power comes back on and barely ten minutes before my father arrives. I need to know the extent of this right now."

There was a moment of silence before Katniss sighed, "Gale kissed me, in the woods, the first day I arrived, and he just tried it again"

For a split second, Peeta saw green. But the feeling disappeared as quickly as it came.

"Oh for fucks sake sweetheart, are you trying to get us all killed?" Haymitch mumbled dropping his head into his hands. The comment caught Peeta of guard. To his knowledge the District Twelve mentor didn't know that he worked for the rebellion.

"I'm sorry," she sighed grumpily, "I didn't mean to… I didn't… I just never see these things coming". She seemed to be more frustrated by her own lack of intuition than by the action itself.

"You're sorry?" Gale started, his anger returning.

"Enough!" Peeta growled dangerously, "We don't have time to argue. Haymitch…" He turned to the shaggy man. "Go and get Gale's family, every one of them. They need to be safely upstairs in less than seven minutes." He instructed. For a moment the sandy haired victor stared at the young man, clearly unsure whether he should trust the man. Peeta sighed inwardly, of course he doesn't know where my loyalties lie, he just knows what my father is capable of, he thought sadly. "You really don't have much but to trust me," He stated, "I won't let him hurt her."

"Just do as he says Haymitch," Katniss pleaded. Her mentor frowned, but he followed the instruction and rushed out the door.

"Mrs Everdeen," Peeta started his focus moving to the slight woman who had backed into the corner of the room. He spoke kindly, aware of the toll the situation was taking on her. "Take Primrose upstairs please. Do not lock your door – you may need to run down here... if anyone comes up and tries to take you, don't struggle… just make plenty of noise." Katniss' mother nodded quickly but didn't move.

"You'll keep Katniss safe?" she asked with a conflicted expression.

He gave her a strained smile, silently wishing that he had somehow made his situation clearer to the people of District Twelve. "I will do my best," he told her honestly. Tears welled in her eyes as she took both her daughters in her arms. They stayed like that until the lights flickered back to life and the heavy knocking on the door echoed through the house.

Peeta motioned for Katniss and Gale to follow them through to the lounge and Haymitch rushed in breathless and scowling just in time to watch as Peeta opened the front door.

The room grew cold as Snow floated in wearing a dangerous smile. The scent of roses mingled with blood filled the space, turning their stomachs. The powerful man was followed closely by two peace-keepers. One of whom was Zane. Peeta sent him a glare before turning to look at his Father. "I am constantly surprised by the grandeur of these houses. We are so kind to our Victors" He stated as he sat down on one of the white lounge chairs.

"It doesn't quite compare to our home" Peeta pointed out. He didn't feel like playing games. "Speaking of which, you rarely ever leave the comfort of the Capitol…" The unspoken words hung in the air.

"I am concerned about the well-being of my son… and his… muse?" Snow answered, "do you have a title for young Miss Everdeen, or does she just share your bed?"

And there it was. The consequence that he had predicted was splashed across the Gale and Haymitch's faces. Peeta forced his expression to remain passive as he sighed inwardly. "Girlfriend will suffice," he replied through gritted teeth while throwing an apologetic look at Katniss.

"Really?" he quiried, his eyes regarding the two of them darkly, "well in that case… what is she doing kissing this young rebel then?"

There was silence. Peeta waited, knowing there was more. "I am concerned about your secret rendezvous beyond the District Twelve fence Miss Everdeen...and I will not tolerate wicked words from your lover in MY HOUSE!"

The last two words echoed through the rooms. He frowned knowing that they weren't getting out of this one lightly. He chose to continue to remain silent. He needed to know the punishment before he could decide on an action.

"I am sorry son," his Father began, "but I will not let either of these two make a mockery of my family." The President of Panem stood and glared at them all with hatred and rage. "Kill them both, and their families!" he spat at the two peace-keepers who nodded and raised their guns.

"Really?" Peeta growled, his tone threatening, causing the Peace-keepers to pause. Their primary responsibility was firstly to protect the President. "All of them - dead?" His eyes darted to Katniss, then Gale and Haymitch. All of them stood quietly defiant and his respect for the people of District Twelve increased tenfold.

"Yes" Coriolanus Snow sneered.

Peeta said nothing but gave his father a dangerous smile. Two can play this game. He picked up the phone next to him and punched numbers in faster than he ever had in his life. "This is Peeta Snow. My father has told me to instruct you to deliver four bags of grain to every household in District Twelve… Yes, right now… Would you like to ask why... No, that won't be a problem -his personal hovercraft is available to make the deliveries… Of course you understand the consequences of this not being completed five minutes ago." The phone went dead as the person on the other end hung up.

Peeta grinned inwardly as he watched his Father's face twist in anger. The man held a hand in the air stopping the Peace-Keepers from completing his earlier order. Then came the bang on the door.

"Delivery for Household Everdeen… courtesy of President Snow." Peeta watched as his Father realised exactly what he had just witnessed. With the simple action, the young man had both demonstrated his power, and threatened to use it if Katniss or the people she loved were hurt.

"You are a fool boy!" The President snapped. He spun to the peace-keepers. "Arrest my son, now!" He growled at them. As they carried out the order the blonde man did not struggle. He was certain that he had just used all nine lives that he had saved up and he was no use to anyone dead. He held his father's gaze as they accidentally battered him and watched him calm slightly. The President was the one to break eye contact before turning to Katniss who just glared at him . "It is time for us to return to the Capitol" He told her. His tone dared her to argue but she chose to remain passive.

The relief he felt as she complied with his father's request disappeared as they boarded the train. He was thrown roughly into a makeshift holding cell, but not before he heard his father's words...

"Perhaps if you see how my son will suffer for you, we may be able to negotiate some terms that will help us avoid this predicament in future"