It's a snow day so I'm free as a bird right now. I normally have a lot going on right now. So I apologize for the grammar mistakes, the over usages of words, and etc. Please Enjoy and please review. It makes me really happy when I see those reviews.
Chapter 6: Sugar and Spice
….
I woke up this morning; well I wouldn't even say morning since it was around three in the morning. My throat was parched and since we got back Madge and I had drank through her little flask that she had with her. I rolled out of bed and Madge groaned.
"What time is it?"
"Uh way to early for you to be up." I snickered as I slipped on some slippers. "I'm going to grab some water." Madge nodded her head… kind of it looked more like she was rubbing her face further into the pillows. I made my way out the door and down the stairs. I could smell the light singe of cigarette smoke and the clank of pans. Someone else was awake in the kitchen. I flushed at the little hopefulness of it being Peeta who was also awake.
I tiptoed my way to the kitchen to see that it was Peeta standing there with a cigarette hanging from his lips as he kneaded his fingers through the newly made dough. I leaned in the doorway, watching his every move. He pulled the cigarette from his lips and laid it within the glass ashtray and sighed. Smoke trailed off his lips while he leaned back against the counter. His face was stoic and lost in thought.
"Still awake?" I asked. Peeta looked back with a small smile before he shifted his gaze to his suit jacket next to him. He picked it up and tossed it my way.
"Please wear that." He didn't look my way I didn't think what I was wearing was too bad step in chemise bloomer. I agreed as I pulled on his jacket as it enveloped me. It smelled like cinnamon, flour, whiskey, his cologne, and cigarette smoke. I took in a sniff as he looked back at me, his face flushing a little further. "Ok that was probably a bad idea." His fingers stiffened a he stood straight back up and gripped into the dough.
"What's wrong with it?" I looked down at myself and glanced back at him with confusion. He shut his eyes tight and ran his palm over his face leaving bits of flour and dough in its wake. I chuckled at his mess.
" You are going to kill me one of these days." He groaned with a small smirk as he grabbed the cigarette and set it between his lips. "Oh before I forget I owe you 20 for the singing. You helped me out there."
"It was only one song Peeta. That's too much money for that, and I already owe you for the clothes." He shook his head.
"Oh trust me it was well worth it." I could feel my ears flush. I pointed towards the cabinets as he put out his cigarette in the ashtray snubbing it before he looked back at me.
"Glasses?" Peeta gave me a lopsided smile as he walked over towards me. His body pressed against mine as he reached behind me. His face was so close I could feel his breath against my skin.
"Right behind you." He whispered close to my ear. I really hated how this city boy made me feel. He pulled back as he handed me a glass, leaning back against the counter giving me the distance I needed. Though for some reason it wasn't exactly what I wanted. I hate being a woman. All these touchy feely emotions were not something I was used to. I didn't want to bring anything up, I would rather just run away as usual but that was going to be a bit hard since we were going to see each other every day.
"Look, Peeta. Since were here. We should talk … about everything." Peeta nodded as if he was expecting that. He pulled out a little box of Luckys and placed the new cigarette in his mouth. His fingers reached into his pants, grabbed a match, and lit the cigarette with a slow drag.
"Ok." He agreed as he flicked the match into the ashtray. "One for one." He stated with a small nod. "Gale told you that we own a speak easy, and I'm guessing he also told you the family business." I nodded my head as he waited for my response before continuing on. His expression stiffened as he took a puff and exhaled. "Was that the first time you kissed Gale?" I guess he did see.
"Yeah." Peeta stared at my face as his softened from my answer. "Why is your family taking care of mine?" It was a question that had been eating at me for a while.
"I think it has to do with father still having feelings for your mother." Peeta stated which took me by surprise.
"And your momma's ok with it?" Peeta shook his head and rolled his eyes. I was guessing that was a no.
"On yeah." He gave me a snarky smirk as he continued before my jaw could fall. "That's why she ran off to Paris a few weeks ago when father told her about his plan." he chuckled at the thought. "I miss her… kind of… not really. She was kind of… abusive, unhappy, mean?" He stated with a small shrug of his shoulders. "It's a lot easier running the bakeries without her screaming at all the negros, Italians, polacks, and orientals we've hired. She would say they dirtied the air." He rolled his eyes. "Needless to say she was a bitch." Wow I was kind of glad I didn't have a chance meeting her. He turned to me with a small smile. "What's your favorite food?" I looked at him with my head cocked to the side in confusion. I guess a deal was a deal.
"Your cheese bread." I stated with a nod. I really couldn't get enough of it and if I could eat it all day I would. His face tinged a light red at my words. Peeta lightly scratched the back of his head and smiled.
"I'm glad you like it."
"Isn't there a girl you like?" I had asked mostly to state I wasn't worth the time but his eyes bore into me.
"Yes." He stated so matter of factly that I could feel my shoulders slump at his words. "You." He added and I could feel my body tense at his words. "I'll be honest Kat, I'm not going to force that on you. Since you still seem confused about Gale and all." He cringed at his own words. "Why did you kiss me?" I was stumped at his question. I didn't fully know myself how to answer it.
"I dunno… I just wanted to so I did." I murmured. It was the truth, something inside me wanted to kiss him and it scared me a bit at how attached to this boy I was getting. "Did you know about our parents hitching us together?"
"Yeah of course I knew. Come on really? I was as surprised as you." He groaned. He grabbed my glass and made his way to the sink and poured in some water. He placed the glass back in my hands as he looked into my eyes. "Are you completely against it?" Peeta's shoulders were slumped; he was preparing himself for the worst.
"Peeta. We barely know each other. I mean it's been years since we'd seen each other and we were just children at the time." I couldn't look him in his eyes.
"I guess so." He shrugged though he didn't seem too happy with my answer. He took in another drag of his cigarette and sighed.
"Will everythin goin ta be ok with your drinking well? Your singer bailin on you and all." I took a sip of my water. He nodded his head lightly the cigarette still hanging off his lips.
"Yeah it'll take a while to find another gal to fill in for Glimmer, but don't worry about that. I'll take care of it."
"I can do it." Peeta stared at me, blankly till a little embers from his cigarette fell onto his shirt and skin. He hissed and quickly swatted at it putting himself out before he caught on flame. When it he had stopped he stared back up at me like he had just seen a jack-a-lope.
"Why? I told you I don't want you involved." He palmed his face again smearing more flour over his face.
"I wanna pay back your family for taking care of momma ov.." I couldn't finish my words as I began to snicker. He raised his brow at me. I laughed a little harder as I pointed to my face then his.
"What? Something on my face?" He wiped his cheek with the back of his hand seeing the little bits of flour that transferred over. He was just smearing it all over the place and my laugh just grew. "Oh is that funny?" He asked with a sly smirk as he leaned in and wiped his hand over my face.
I stopped laughing as I felt a cool powder smear on my face. I looked at Peeta's hand; he had fresh flour all over his palms. The weasel had palmed some fresh flour and smeared it right on my face. My eyes widened and my jaw slacked as he began to laugh heartily.
"You didn't" Peeta doubled over and continued laughing as he nodded his head in his little fit. I turned to the side in search for something else. Vanilla extract, I grabbed the bottle and filled my palm.
"No, come on no, no, no." Peeta shifted away from me as I smiled brightly as I inched closer towards him. The liquid sloshing in my hand with every step I took. "Come on it was just flour." I grabbed a handful of sugar as my smile widened. "That is so not fair."
I shifted my weight to the balls of my feet and rolled around the island splashing the sweet dark amber liquid, hitting him on his face and shirt. I slowly reached out and dumped the sugar in his hair. His mouth widened in surprise mimicking what mine had probably looked like a few seconds ago. I couldn't help but double over and laugh at his surprise.
"Now were even." Peeta shook his head with a smile as he held his hands behind his back. "What'cha have in your hands?" I scooted back away from him as he walked towards me with a face splitting smile on his face. He held up his hands and dark brown pebbles began to melt against his finger. "Chocolate?"
Peeta lunged towards me as I tried to shift out of his way but his reach was longer than I had thought as I could feel the pieces of chocolate smear against my skin and fall within my sleepwear. I shivered feeling it melt against my skin as Peeta's arms wrapped around me from behind. His warm breath brushed against my ear and the tinge of cigarette on his breath filled my nose. The two of us stood there still laughing about our little food fight but we were no where near done, I wasn't at least.
"And here I was going to make chocolate croissants with raspberry jam." He snickered as I reached out to the deep red substance in one of the silver bowls and dipped my hand in. Reached back and smeared it on his face. I turned my head to see the damage I had done and snickered at my work.
Peeta however was no longer laughing. I pursed my lips. "Come on it ain't that bad, you got chocolate in my nighties too and I ain't poutin about it." His arms tightened around me and his face turned towards mine.
"Katniss." He called my name huskily as his eyes darkened, his face flushed when he stared into mine. It prickled my skin as I could feel my heart quicken. He loosened his grip around my waist with a small groan. "You should go…" He stated, his fingers lightly rubbed against my sides as his head rested against the crook of my neck. I could feel the cool wet jam smear across my neck. His warm breath ran across my skin and although my brain wanted me to run away and take his advice, my feet however stayed planted in one place. Peeta lightly kissed my neck leaving a jolt down my spine. "That's a lie, I really don't want to let you go." He moaned as his grip around me tightened. My body shivered in his grasps and my legs felt weak.
Everything I was feeling was completely new to me. Different, scary, yet it felt like sunflowers, warm and caring sunlight that surrounded me. I wanted to feel more.
"You dun want me." He scoffed at my words and lightly pulled my hair to the side. I could feel his lips press against the nape of my neck ever so gently leaving a small sigh on my lips. His lips trailed against my skin till they found mine. His wolfishly overtook mine, nipping at my lips till I opened to him. The taste of raspberries, chocolate, whiskey, and cigarettes mixed against our tongues. I arched my body against his, reaching back around his neck, pulling him in closer as a moan escaped my lips. Each caress of his tongue sent tingles down my spine numbing my brain. I could feel the heat rise as my skin flushed and that needing warmth pooled between my legs.
Peeta's hand lightly trailed its way from my hip under his jacket. Pulling and teasing the thin satin wall between his flesh and mine till his hand cupped my breast. I could feel his hardening arousal press against my back.
"You taste and feel so good." He groaned as he took my lips again with need as his thumb grazed against my nipple leaving me to mewl at his ministrations.
"Peeta." I moaned against his lips as he repeated his action kneading against my breast though the thin fabric barrier till I could feel his calloused flesh brush against my bare skin. My body shivered at the feeling of his hand; the warmth melting and smearing the stray pieces of chocolate against my skin. His other hand trailed down my stomach his fingers flexed before he stopped his hand and pulled away. He sucked in a deep breath as I let out a small whimper.
"Oh I beg to differ." Peeta growled as he quickly and lightly pushed me away from him. "You'll be the one to break my heart." He whispered something but I couldn't hear it even with my ears being as good as they were. I looked back at him in confusion of his lack of warmth and his words. Peeta hissed as his fingers gripped the counter he leaned back on tightly. "Go, because, I wont give you a third escape if you stay. " He licked his soft red lips before he reached back into his pocket for another cigarette. His eyes flickered at me waiting for me to go. To run away.
I looked back at him in this massive restaurant like kitchen and with the look of defeat in his eyes. I didn't want to leave him.
"Why do you like me so much?" I asked him. I guess he expected that question because he just ran his fingers though his hair as it started to loosen from the fading pom staining parts of his blond hair brown from chocolate.
"Because of everything."
Days passed like a damn tornado as Sunday rolled around and I knew I would have to talk with Gale today and Peeta wasn't too happy that I was still going onn the hunting trip. He grumbled a bit but waved me off with a smile. We hadn't really talked much after that morning well we talked but about how the day was.
I had tried helping him at the bakery but… I was not at all good with baking. The piano player from the speek who's name was Thresh was also working the bakery. I really wasn't good at this. I burnt a few… ok a lot of pieces of bread before an oriental boy waved me off leaving Peeta bowed over in laughter.
Right now, this was what I was good at… well usually.
I could barely concentrate on the deer in my sights and I could feel Gale's grey eyes stare at my back.
"Stop starin at me Gale or I'll pop your eye out." He gave a throaty laugh
"I can't help it Catnip. You look really good." I groaned at his words and let my fingers drop from the string. The arrow whistled out of my fingers as it hit the ground missing the deer. I clicked my tongue in annoyance as I glared back at him and he laughed.
"What the hell Gale." I growled. I wanted to rip his head off. The city life was making him a horrible hunter.
"It's not like you need it for food anymore." He stated as he pulled up the two rabbits he had caught and drained earlier today with his snares.
"I still need to practice just in case." I snarled. These last few days my irritation had been getting the best of me. "Show off." I threw my nose up in the air with a click of my tongue.
"Can I put in my two pennies worth?"
"No"
"You know I'm still going to." I dropped my head in defeat and groaned. "What are you so afraid of Catnip?"
"Everything Gale. Why now why after all this time did you tell me you love me?" Gale's lips pursed as he sat down on a fallen log and ran his fingers through his hair with a huff.
"Doesn't me just saying that I love you cover it?" He asked.
"No."
"Fine, I don't know. It irritated me a lot the looks you and Peeta give each other. I just really don't like it." He groaned. I know that Gale wasn't the type that liked showing his weaknesses.
"Gale. I you're my best friend."
"You like him more." His jaw stiffened at his own words like they left a bad taste in his mouth. Gale rolled his eyes and sighed, pursing his lips over the new information he had just gathered.
"I… don't know." I pointed between us. "Do you really believe this is right for us. You cannot tell me that all this time you were pining over me Gale."
"You're right. Excuse me for ruining your Cinderella fairytale." Gale growled.
"Gale."
" What more do you want from me Katniss? Is this still over me leaving you two years ago? Will you ever be able to look at me and not think there is the guy who abandoned me for his own family?" He snapped at me and his words made me wince. I couldn't deny that held steadfast in my heart. After all of his promises he had left.
Tears welled in my eyes at his words. These two couldn't understand all that Prim and I had to go through especially the last two weeks after mother left us too.
"I don't know Gale." The cold air burned at my throat and my eyes stung from the tears that were forming. "After you left Sheriff Cray died and it got harder trading in the game I caught with momma's condition and with the economy falling as it is down in the Seam, You weren't there." I could feel my tears sting my cheeks.
"But I'm here now." Gale had stood up and his hand rested on my cheek wiping away the tears that had fallen. "I really don't want you involved in this mess. The Mellarks are nice people but they are still the mob and this is a dangerous city. Capone's gone north for a bit and the other Italians like Lorenzo and Salvatore are trying to move in making war with the Northside Gang."
"He's not like that."
"He may not be like that Katniss but he sure as hell still on the list like them. The prohi's have been running around town as of late and Haymitch is doing his best to keep them off the Mellark's trail." He rubbed his eyes before continuing. "Why do you even care for them that much?" He was almost screaming now.
"Because they're taking care of us Gale." Gale groaned further at my words. "Gale I… Gale held up his hand and stopped me from continuing.
"No." He whispered as he held up his finger against his lip telling me to shut up. We weren't alone. Gale made his way back to the log and reached over, pulling out his rifle. I could hear the light rustling of leaves coming our way and a crunch from sticks of someone heavy footed.
"Officer Hawthorne." Someone called out with a sing songy voice that left chills on my skin. "I thought we saw your car." The man called out again with a thick Italian accent.
"Gale who is that?" I whispered over to him as I readied my bow. We both took a few steps back carefully checking our trails.
"Genna brother's I think. Those boys should be out of the game since three of their brothers were sacked" Gale whispered back. "I guess they're trying to make a come back maybe with the Green ones gang." Gale snarled as we made our way behind two trees. His rifle pointed towards the intruders.
.
"Come on out where ever you are Officer Hawthorne. We just want to talk." Two men strode in through the clearing with their guns out and ready to shoot whatever came their way.
"Isn't this a nice surprise. I thought you boys were out of business you know since Mikey, Antonio, and Angelo were all sacked by the North Sides and us bobbies." Gale called out as I watched him steady his aim on the two. "Edward Baldelli, I thought that was you and here you brought Vito Bascone. Were you boys trying to have some alone time with each other?"
Gale nodded his head at me and I readied my bow and took aim.
The man that had been all smiles a second ago frowned. "You've got some steel balls for a flat foot but all joking aside." The man's face turned into a scowl. "We want what you've got." He snarled. "I know you're on the take with the Mellarks, tell me when and where the next shipments are coming in. It's two to one bull."
The bigger man held his gun out towards Gale with a sneer. Gale tsked at the two men. I pulled my string.
"Actually It's two to two." Gale stated.
"A damn dame with a bow?" The talkative one laughed at the thought, which only pissed me off.
"Ah. Yeah, that was probably a bad idea. The dame is a better shot than I am." I freed my fingers from the string as the arrow whizzed through the air into the bigger man's kneecap. He fell into the dirt with a scream as the smaller one open fired at Gale. Bullets buzzed through the air as Gale shot the man through the eye with a pop. The bigger man kept shooting till he ran out of bullets leaving only the click of the hammer.
"Fucking stupid bitch! I'm going to kill you!" He screamed as Gale made his way over to him, punching his face. My heart was beating a mile a minute It wasn't my first time shooting a man in the leg, but it was the first watching one's skull shatter in front of me.
"Bascone, did you really think you'd get one over on me?" Gale asked as he stared down and the man. Bascone spat at him leaving a stain of drool on Gale's shirt. Gale punched him again harder this time till his head snapped to the side. Blood pooled out of his mouth and down his chin.
"Who hit the Mellark shipment a few days ago?"
"Gale." I called out and he shook his head at me.
"No Catnip, If we let him go he will kill not only my family but yours too do you understand that?" I nodded my head lightly. Being from the seam we had to fight to get what we needed and for the years after my fathers death this was not much different I haven't killed anyone before, but I could see myself doing so to protect Prim.
"I don't know." Bascone groaned. Gale didn't like the answer and lightly tapped the arrow protruding from his kneecap. Bascone doubled over in pain screaming off the top of his lungs.
"WHO?" Gale screamed.
" It wasn't us I swear!" Bascone screamed. "It was Saltis McErlane Gang." Gale aimed his rifle at Bascone, pressed the trigger and with a thunk his body fell into a red heaping mess in the dirt. I leaned down and ripped the arrow from the man's leg.
"This is the world we live in now." Gale stated as I stood there staring at all the blood. My stomach churned at the sight wanting to vomit. You would think after killing all those animals I would be used to this sight… but I wasn't.
Gale had taken me home that night as my body unconsciously shook, remembering the corpses in the woods. It was an hour and a half drive back to the Mellarks. We got back around 8 that night and Gale made his way into the house with me in tow to talk to both Peeta and Jimmy about what had just happened. Peeta however heard only half of it grabbed my hand and took me outside to the back yard where he wrapped me in his arms, telling me he was sorry.
No tears fell from my eyes, which surprised me, but I enjoyed the warmth he had given me. His eyes stared at my face as he told me more news I didn't want to hear.
Momma had one of her fits again. She had a rough day at work and Danny was upstairs taking care of her. My shoulders slumped at his words and everything I had drained from me. I didn't know what to say aside from how horrible I felt about the whole thing. I bit my tongue as I tried to stifle a scream of anger that wanted to escape so badly.
"Katniss. You should go take a shower." Peeta stated as he stood there still holding me in his arms. I guess I nodded because he let go of me. I trudged up the stairs, showered, and made my way to bed. I didn't want to deal with her tonight. Not right now.
I watched over and over again the brains and skull matter escape from Bascone's head as blood poured out onto the dirt and grass of the forest clearing. My heart raced and I could feel the blood drench my hands.
Mom sat there in her little rocking chair as the world around her exploded with the mine. All those faces of people that I had known. Breaking down from skin and bone over and over again these images filled my mind and all I could do was scream.
My eyes opened in the darkness as my door opened. My body drenched in sweat and tears as a weight sat on the side of my bed. I glanced over to see Peeta his face full of concern.
"Are you ok? You were screaming. I'm kind of surprised Prim didn't hear you." He stated as he placed his hand over my head. I nodded my head with a small sigh of relief.
"Yeah, what time is it?"
"It's one in the morning."
"I'm sorry for waking you up." Peeta shook his head at me.
"It's ok… are you sure you're ok?" He asked again. I grabbed his hand and I don't know why but I didn't want to be away from the comfort he was giving me.
"Do you mind…" My face flushed at my thoughts as he waited patiently for my words.
"Do you need me to leave?" He asked. I shook my head vigorously at his words.
"No." I blurted out. I took in a deep breath and sighed forming my words carefully. "Can you stay with me?" I felt like a child but I didn't want to be alone right now. His face seemed conflicted with his thoughts as he stared into my eyes.
"I'll go pull up a chair..."
"I mean can you… sleep with me… in bed. I mean." I stuttered at the words as he nodded his head lightly. He leaned over and pulled the covers before he slipped in the bed with me and wrapped me in his arms. My face rested against his chest, he smelled like cigarettes and cake today and I could feel myself smile a little. Peeta kissed the top of my head and I closed my eyes.
AN: Ok so
Bascone and Badelli were actual mobsters, they however died in February but for the sake of purpose and how they died worked kinda well with the fanfic so I pushed their deaths into April. Same with the Genna brothers, there were 6 of them and the three that I mentioned above were killed around 1924 or so but remnants of their group that were not joined with Capone or Weiss's guys tried to stick around Chicago.
There is not much known about the Green ones Gang or McEarlne's gang but that's the fun of it right?
Btw Haymitch is the police Commissioner just in case you guys wanted to know.
Next update may take a while. It was a snow day and sick day that allowed me to work on this as quickly as I did but it'll probably go back to a week or two per chapter. Thanks and please review!