Vendetta
Peeta gave a half chuckle, "And you look tired Madge...you try to hide it beneath ice and stone but I can see it. You look tired, Madge, so fucking tired." –Peeta Mellark.
Chapter Seven: Newest Team Member
"So…how long are you in town?" Katniss asked, looking at the wares of the Hob after she was done bartering her latest kill. It wasn't necessary for her to hunt anymore but she still did it, it gave her time to be alone and to just…think.
"Until we catch Heetov or he moves his operation again," Madge answered without looking at her, she was too busy looking around. Or rather scanning the Hob trying to see any hidden threats.
"So where did you learn to shoot a gun?" Katniss tried again.
It worked, a small smile flickered on Madge's lips, "Justin did."
"Who's Justin?" Katniss asked a bit too eagerly. There had been a light in Madge's eyes that Katniss hadn't seen since she had come back.
The smile disappeared and a shadow appeared behind her eyes, "No one."
"Madge," Katniss hesitated, "Why are you going after Heetov in the first place?"
The blonde's steps faltered but only for half of a second, "Because he took something of mine."
"All this just for a simple theft?" Katniss gave her a confused half-smile.
Madge stared down at Katniss, "I wish it was that simple."
"That was just awful!" Was the first thing Peeta heard when the 22 year olds entered the house.
Peeta got up from the couch, where he was sketching, to go and greet the two. "What was so awful?"
Peeta saw that Madge was irritated and wondered what could get to the usually distant woman.
"Everywhere I went people kept on going up to me and saying that I looked like Madge Undersee, and then I said that I was her, and…I never knew the people in this District were such gossipers," Madge almost-whined.
Peeta chuckled, "Well ever since life's improved here we don't really have much to do after work."
Madge raised one eye brow and set the greens from the Hob on the kitchen table, "Sounds boring."
"Not really," Peeta started putting away the groceries.
Madge leaned against the countertop watching as Peeta and Katniss put away the groceries and exchanged small talk. "So when are you guys going to get married?"
Both of them froze and turned to look at her like she had said something wrong. "What?"
As far as she as concerned it was a perfectly legitimate question, Peeta was obviously in love with Katniss and Katniss was definitely in love with him—even if she didn't show it—so what was stopping them? Two Hunger Games and a war had clearly made them inseparable. People had gotten married for less.
"What?" Katniss blinked several times like she was testing her hearing.
"You know, married? When are you two going to tie the knot?"
"I—we—I mean," Katniss sputtered, same old Katniss. Still couldn't see past what's going on today. Though Madge couldn't really fault her, why bother with the future if you didn't know if you would survive past tomorrow? That mentality had been ingrained into Katniss since she was kid. Madge had been like that once too.
Luckily Peeta stepped in, "We haven't really talked about it. And besides, marriage is a little old fashioned, don't you think? We don't really need to get married."
Katniss stared at Peeta with a confused look on her face. Madge nodded and heard the door open, "Well Sergeant Gale's here so my shift's done. I'll be here tomorrow before you guys wake up."
They watched as she walked out the door but not before saying, "By the way if you guys get into any trouble just press the button I gave you."
By the time dinner had rolled around and Gale was gone, Katniss was still looking at Peeta with that hurt and confused look still on her face.
"So how was your day with the Mocking Jay?" Theo asked, clacking away on his computer. Glitter was in the shower if the sound of the water running was any indication.
Madge flopped down and the couch and laid down, sighing to release some of the tension in her body, she draped one of her arms across her eyes. "Annoying and would you please stop referring to her as the Mocking Jay? She has name you know."
Theo stopped and turned to look at her like she had said something blasphemous. Madge rolled her eyes, "I know you worship her and all but calm down. She is a person you know."
"A person who saved the Districts and won the war for us," Theo explained, talking to her like she was a child.
"Just don't let Glitter hear you say that, she might get jealous," Madge teased.
Theo turned around quickly and started on his computer again, "She doesn't feel that way about me Madge."
"Yes, she does Theo," Madge whispered. It was silent in the tiny motel room save for the soft whoosh-whoosh of the fan overhead and the shower running. "Why can't you see that?"
Theo's broad shoulders were tense, "Just leave it Mad."
"Theo—"
"I said leave it!" Theo's deep voice boomed. It was rare for Theo to yell. With his deep voice, there was hardly any need but when he did yell people listened, either out of curiosity, respect, or fear. He took a deep breath and started typing again, "Why would she ever love someone like me? I can't offer her anything Mad. Not even a last name. So just—leave it. Please?"
The last part was said quietly, in a whisper that barely carried. Madge sighed and ran a hand through her hair, she knew about Theo's past. An orphan who was dropped off on the doorsteps of an orphanage as a baby with nothing but a note that said, My name is Theo. He was the smallest kid there and because of that the other kids made his life a living hell. He ran away from there when he was 12. His life was even worse after that.
Madge stared at Theo's back, she still remembered the first time she saw him. It was raining that night, so hard it hurt her skin even through her thin, long-sleeved T-shirt. There was flash of lightning and it illuminated him for a second. He had a cut above his left eye that was still bleeding, a swollen jaw, split lip, and knuckles that were torn and bleeding. She remembered how well they fought together in the pounding rain, she was quick and light on her feet, hitting where it would do the most damage. While he fought with heavy punches and powered kicks that shattered bone. She remembered letting him walk her back to her motel.
She also remembered him showing up on her doorstep night after night after that with new bruises and cuts. She remembered seeing him walking away with a limp and wincing while breathing.
"Where do these bruises come from Theo?" She had asked. "What do you do?"
He stared at her with haunting, empty eyes, "I survive."
The sound of someone knocking on the door shattered the tense atmosphere. Madge sighed and got up, "I'll get it."
Madge opened the door to see Gale standing there, "What are you doing here?"
"Can I come in?" Gale asked, his shoulders hunched over, and his eyes were flickering back and forth like he was expecting something to come out of the shadows and attack him. Madge stepped out of the way. "Thanks."
"Who was at the door?" Glitter asked, toweling her wet hair and with only a tiny white towel wrapped around her body. Her eyes traced up to Gale and an alluring smile spread across her face. "Hello."
Gale gave her a heart melting smile, "And who are you?"
Madge rolled her eyes, "Down boy, she's taken. And Glitter? Go put on some clothes!"
Glitter pouted, her bottom lip jutted out in a way that drove all men crazy, and Gale was no different. Madge just rolled her eyes again and walked back into the living room.
"Who was it?" Theo asked, not looking up from what he was doing. He wasn't on the computer anymore; instead he was tinkering with something.
"Gale Hawthorne."
Theo's hands didn't still but he did look up, "What's he doing here?"
Madge shrugged and took a seat next to him on the couch, "Don't know, right now he's too busy flirting into Glitter's pants."
At that Theo gave her his full attention, his twitchy hands stilling and an intense light came into his eyes. He was jealous. Madge would've smirked if she wasn't so tired. "Don't worry about it Theo, it's not like she'll say yes. She's holding out for one special guy."
"Are you still on about this?" Theo turned back so she couldn't see his annoyed expression. He knew her well enough that if she did see it, she wouldn't let it drop.
Madge sighed but decided to let it go. She scooted closer to him to see what he was working on, "What are you doing?"
The 20 year old moved over so she could observe. "You know the problems with our comm.'s right now right?"
"Yeah, the farthest you can get is ten miles before we're out of range from each other. Are you trying to fix that?"
Theo tilted his head at her and smirked, "Not try. Just did. The range is 50 miles now."
Madge grinned, "Boulder, you are a freaking genius I hope you know that."
"What?"
"I said you're a genius."
Theo grinned, "I know, I just like hearing you say that."
Madge shook her head, laughing; she bumped him with her shoulder. He bumped her back.
That was the scene that Glitter and Gale walked in on, the two laughing and smiling at each other.
"What's going on here?" Glitter smiled at them but it didn't reach her eyes.
"Nothing, Theo here was just amazing me with how conceited he could be."
"Oh, really?" Glitter's eyes showed that she didn't really believe that was all that happened. "I'm just going to get changed, Theo you want to help me?"
Meaning I'm jealous and I want to maker sure you weren't flirting with another girl, Madge interpreted. She smirked inwardly, And she says she doesn't feel anything for him.
"Um, sure?" Theo was confused but didn't say anything, just got up and followed her to her room.
"Someone's getting laid tonight," Madge sang.
"Are those two…?"
"No but they should be, don't you think?" She was in a good mood. "Why are you here?"
Gale was uncertain but he'd come this far. He took a deep breath, just as Theo came back into the room, "I want in on your operation."
"What exactly does that mean?" Madge raised one pale eye brow.
Gale looked her directly in the eyes, "I want to be on your team to take down Heetov."
"What did you mean earlier?" Katniss asked, looking at her boyfriend—that is what he was, right?—of five years.
"What are you talking about Kat?" Katniss felt herself blushing at his nickname for her. He only ever used it when it was just them.
"When you said we didn't need to get married," the two laid in bed together, not touching but intensely aware of each other. Despite them living together for three years, they had only had sex a handful of times.
"Well, we don't, do we? I mean," Peeta shrugged. "I know how I feel."
Katniss propped her head on one arm to look at him, she made a vaguely insulted noise. "Are you saying I don't love you?"
"What?" Peeta's eyes went wide. "Where did you get that idea?"
"You just said you didn't know how I feel about you."
"No! I said I know how I feel."
"You implied it." Katniss hadn't shouted the whole time and her eyes were steady on his baby blues.
Peeta sighed, "Okay, yes maybe I did. But can you blame me? You're not exactly Ms. Emotional, Katniss."
Katniss' eyes narrowed, "I thought guys hated emotional girls."
"Yeah but it would be nice to know to how my girlfriend feels every once in a while."
Her eyes narrowed to slits. "Are you saying that I'm unfeeling, that I don't—"
"I'm saying you're an ice queen Katniss!" Peeta exploded, getting out of the bed, running his hand through his dirty blonde hair. "Half the time I don't even know if you love me or Gale!"
Katniss got out of the bed, her movements quiet and her entire body was tense. Her posture screamed hunter. "I'm dating you Peeta, not Gale."
Peeta scoffed, "You sure about that? 'Cause you don't act like it, Katniss."
Her voice turned dangerous, laden with warnings and promise of pain. "What does that mean?"
Peeta gave a half laugh, licking his bottom lip. "You and Gale have a bond that no one can—can intrude on. How do you think that makes me feel? Knowing that another guy knows you better than I do?!"
"Are you really jealous of Gale? Of course we have a bond! If it wasn't for him I would've died a long time ago!" Katniss moved closer to Peeta, "Peeta, I'm with you not Gale."
Peeta backed away before she could touch him and that hurt more than she could say. "He was your first love Katniss."
"Peeta—"
"Don't even try to deny it. You may call him alot of things but you have never once thought of him as a brother. He was your first love Katniss and you never stop loving that person, not really."
Katniss gave a bitter bark of a laugh, "Are you really so insecure that you think I would leave you for—you know what? I can't do this with you, not today."
Katniss threw her hands up and walked past Peeta, his hand shot out and grabbed her arm. He turned her around, his blue eyes burning. "We are having this conversation Katniss."
His grip was tight but not enough to hurt—but that didn't help her any. She knew how strong he was, how fierce he could be. How hot and bright and dark the fire was that was hiding behind his genial personality. She jerked her arm out of his grip and rounded on him. "How dare you. How dare you accuse me and then you have the nerve to manhandle me?!"
He swallowed, trying to beat down on the familiar rush of insanity. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that."
Katniss looked into his bright blue eyes and saw the madness that was hidden there. The madness that the Capital drove him to, it was never gone. It was always hidden but never gone, lurking until it found its opportunity to strike. Katniss may have feared Peeta's strength but she knew Peeta feared himself more.
"You need to calm down Peeta before you hurt yourself."
That was when he broke, his face crumpled like paper, "I'm so scared Katniss. I can still feel them in my mind. It's been five years but I can still feel them messing with my head!"
He was crying, a part of her mind realized. She couldn't do anything though, she didn't know what to do. Both of them stood there, one of them crying. The other stood frozen.
One fearing the darker side of him.
And the other struggling with her memories.
Neither of them forgetting that today was the day Prim died. Or that today was the day the Capital finally broke Peeta.
DONE! Okay, so I have no idea how long the war actually was so I'm extending it to a year and a half to two years. So Katniss would be about 18 or 19 when the war finished. Anyway, DRAMA! I'm very satisfied with this chapter despite the rocky beginning of this chapter (meaning horrible start). Most people portray Katniss and Peeta later on as the sort of "perfect" couple but you have to keep in mind that every couple has problems. Their's is just a little more…darker. With both of them dealing of PTSD, Peeta with his madness, and Katniss with her intimacy issues and a whole slew of others that's too long to list, they're not exactly a vanilla couple. More like blood couple… And I'm sorry if this chapter made Peeta seem a bit too intense but you have to keep in mind what the Capital did to him. REVIEW! SPECIAL SHOUT OUT TO FieryGoldenPheonix FOR MAKING ME WANT TO UPDATE FASTER!
