Disclaimer: I own none of these characters, plot lines or anything connected to The Hunger Games. This is a Peeta/Gale story (SPOILER ALERT. These next chapters contain parts from the third Hunger Games book continue reading at your own risk? Lol)
Peeta slowly peeled open his eyes rubbing them gently as a soft yawn escaped his lips he reached up running his worked fingers through his messy washed out bed hair, pulling the warm layered blankets from his body revealing his almost fully clothed body to the bitter cold unwanted air.
Peeta had no recollection of getting into his bed or even taking of his shoes, socks and shir... Peeta's body froze instantly and his eyes locked onto something laying across his body.
Peeta's train of thoughts stopped when he realised it was a large muscular tanned arm that was draped over his waist clinging onto his hip.
Peeta's mind started running at 70 miles per hour trying to search his damaged brain for a memory that would explain his current situation. Peeta's mouth opened as if to shout instead it just hung there open not making any sound.
"Wait..." Peeta spoke aloud "Gale?" Peeta spoke again his voice sounded hopeful but terror and confusion still evident. His eyes trailed up the muscular scarred back of the person lying next to him as his eyes reached the other males face Peeta breathed out loudly unaware that he was holding in his breath.
Peeta's rapidly beating heart found its way back under control once he remembered the previous night's events, once he remembered that Gale had put him to bed after he blacked out and that Gale was lying in bed with him to share his body heat with Peeta.
Peeta's body relaxed back into the bed as his brain told his body he wasn't in danger and that he was safe. His eyes wandered around his dark bedroom as he caught glimpses of the photos hung to the wall his eyes watered when they saw the picture of Katniss and Prim holding onto each other, their smiles wide and full of love. Peeta stomach churned when he looked at probably the newest photo to be added to his collection one of him and Gale just standing their side by side Gale looking directly at the camera and Peeta looking up to Gale... Peeta's heart pounded harder in his chest as confusion covered his face.
After regaining a hold of his stammered breath and rapidly beating heart Peeta noticed something a small block of light that shined down onto both his and Gale's discarded shirts his eyes followed the trail of light to the window "it can't be..." Peeta spoke his voice showing his obvious disbelief.
"It's morning and I didn't have a nightmare!" Peeta exclaimed before remembering Gale was still soundly asleep next to him, a huge smiled broke out on Peeta's face because for the first time in as long as he could remember he hadn't had a nightmare.
Peeta watched as Gale slept his chest rising and falling, his eyelids dancing as Gale dreamt. Peeta faced his body towards Gale as he studied the way Gale moved and twitched in his sleep, unaware of his actions Peeta's hand moved resting its self on Gale's chest causing Gale to hold onto Peeta's hip tighter and pull Peeta further into his sleeping body.
Peeta whimpered as Gale's grip on his hip became increasing tighter leading Peeta to believe he'd be left with bruises when Gale finally let go. Peeta just stared not moving not wanting to move out of Gale's grip as cheesy and as messed up at it may sound Peeta had never felt safer than in this moment right here and now in Gale's arms.
Peeta processed that feeling in his head as his eyes traced Gale's face remembering every curve every dip and every shadowed part causing Peeta to come to the conclusion that Gale would be complex to draw but Peeta would most definitely want to give it ago and surprise Gale with the end result.
Peeta would be lying if he said that the thought of him and Gale had never crossed his mind before because it had three weeks after Katniss had left and Peeta was a mess crying himself to sleep waking up from terror filled nightmares his body drenched with sweat and shaking. It was the first night Gale had rushed into Peeta's room at 3am and held onto his drenched body as he screamed in pain tears gushing down his cheeks clinging onto Gale's arms wishing the pain would stop and that the Capitol had just killed him.
Peeta swallowed as he slowly rested his head onto Gale's chest the warmth of Gale's skin against his own causing him whimper softly as all his senses flooded with Gale until he was dragged into darkness by sleep.
An hour had gone by since Peeta had been pulled back to sleep.
Peeta pulled the blankets up to his face and fully over his body as he gripped onto the bed, his hands searched through the bed for the warmth of Gale's tanned muscular and safe body he had come accustomed to throughout night Peeta's eyes shot open and he sprang up into a sitting position his eyes frantically looked around the bedroom for any sign of the other male to no avail.
Peeta swung his legs of the bed and dragged the rest of his body from the bed planting his feet firmly onto the floor, Peeta walked confidently around his bedroom before spotting Gale's shirt still on his floor, Peeta reached down pulling the shirt up and smiling before slipping the large shirt over his head and down his body.
Peeta walked over to the cupboard pulling open the dark oak door and grabbing a pair of baggy around the house trousers, slipping of his old trousers he grinned and slipped the new clean pair on.
Peeta worked his way down stairs to hear Gale busy in the kitchen, walking up to the door frame Peeta smiled when the sight of a shirtless Gale with dark messy hair and flour down his trousers and chest trying to cook what looks like pancakes.
Peeta stood silently for a few short moments before stepping into his brightly lit kitchen and speaking softly his voice low and deep "Good morning." Peeta smirked as Gale practically jumped out of his skin hearing Peeta's voice.
"I was going to bring you breakfast." Gale admitted looking at his attempted pancakes for a second then back up to Peeta his cheeks turning a dark red when he heard what he'd said "That sounded less..." Gale continued before shaking his head deciding to stop talking and to carry on cooking.
"Less what?" Peeta asked not missing a beat as he took a seat at the kitchen table his eyes trained on Gale watching his every movement and facial expression.
"Like we're... It's nothing." Gale dodged Peeta's question as he served up the slightly dark golden brown pancakes before getting all the ingredients for topping and laying them out on the table.
Peeta decided to let it go, he knew pushing Gale would do him no good, considering what Gale is willing to do to help Peeta out and to listen to Peeta's constant fears and whining Gale never once let out his feelings he'd never once just broken down and cried himself to sleep.
"Is that my shirt?" Gale asked abruptly his eyes narrowing on Peeta's clothing as Peeta was shoving pancake into his mouth.
Quickly chewing and swallowing Peeta nodded "Uh... Is it? I found it on my floor and it looked comfortable so I just put it on..." Peeta's eyes ran over his shirt and back up to Gale's extremely confused expression "Here." Peeta rolled the shirt up pulling it over his head and placing it onto the table next to Gale.
Gale didn't say anything he just ate in silence every now and again glancing up at Peeta and Peeta's topless body...
Two hours went by since breakfast.
Peeta was sitting in the living room his eyes divulged deep into his favourite book of the moment written by his all-time favourite author Suzanne Collins. Peeta didn't notice a change in the temperature in the room and he also didn't notice how cold his body was until Gale sat next to him.
He glanced over the top of his book at Gale smiling quickly before opening his mouth to speak "Thanks for letting me have today off from Tracker Jacker related things."
Gale's lips broke out into a rare wide smile "No nightmares, no training besides I think you need to rest your body before you burn out.
Peeta leant over to Gale as his body started shaking more and more due to the cold biting air worming its way over his body, Peeta pulled the blanket over his legs up over his body hoping to help keep out the cold to no avail. Placing his book down on the floor Peeta looked to Gale "Do you mind if I..." He motioned to the spot directly next to Gale "I'm freezing again."
Gale just nodded and Peeta instantly moved closer resting the side of his body against Gale's as the heat from Gale's skin took over Peeta's senses once again making Peeta body unconsciously move closer into Gale's he rested his head on Gale's bare chest and his hand on Gale's leg "You're always so warm." Peeta noted "Always the perfect temperature." He continued lifting his head to smile a Gale.
Peeta's eyes flicked to Gale's lips and then back up to his eyes, before his brain caught up with his bodies movements his lips crashed into Gale's and the palm of his hand rested on Gale's shirtless chest causing Gale to tense up immediately.
Author's Note: Sorry I kept you all waiting for this chapter, I had major writers block and I've written and re-written this chapter about 17 times now and I'm still not majorly happy with it but I hope you enjoy. Don't forget to review, and all that stuff you lovely humans you.