Author's Note: So I know there has been a very long wait for this chapter, and I want to thank everyone for waiting so patiently for it. I am nearing the end of a very busy period in my 'real life' and am hopeful I will be able to get out updates more quickly from now on. I am really excited for the next few chapters, starting with this one.
As always, I need to thank my two lovely betas, titania522/ct522 and Solas Violetta, for their wonderful work, and peetabreadgirl for agreeing to be my third! They put so much effort into helping me present the best products I possibly can and deserve all the praise in the world. And even though I've said it before, I'd also like to thank nightlockinthecave for the wonderful banner she made for this story. Creating those isn't easy and she has an awesome talent for it.
Please review! I would love to know your thoughts.
Peeta
Peeta walked wearily back into the glade, the echoes from his heavy tread over the rough ground reverberating through the trees. He winced a little. Moving quietly was the one thing Peeta hadn't quite mastered, though his agility usually made up for it…that was unless he was coming back from night watch into a still sleeping encampment. He stopped when he accidentally stepped on a piece of charred wood from last night's now burnt-out campfire, the loud crunching sound roaring in Peeta's ears as it crumbled under his feet.
"You know, for a notorious thief, you're surprisingly loud, Peeta," a playfully husky voice said, interrupting the silence. Peeta turned, unable to contain the smile from erupting on his face at the sound of the now familiar voice. But then his breath stole away as Katniss came into his view and his eyes traveled down her body before he was able to stop himself.
She had dispensed with a dress today, having opted instead for the tailored tunic and short breeches that many of the women commonly wore. The pants hugged the slight curve of her hips and her muscular thighs, while the shirt clung to her torso, outlining the swell of her breasts. Peeta felt his cock twitch when one sleeve slipped down her arm, and he suppressed the desire to sweep his lips across the now exposed juncture of her neck and shoulder. He supposed Katniss must have borrowed it from Rue, or that Delly had stolen another of Johanna's outfits.
"And you move with stealthy silence, Lady Everdeen," he teased back breathlessly, forcing his eyes up to meet her own. He didn't want Katniss thinking he only admired her body. But then, Peeta watched Katniss' eyebrows raise, annoyance evident on her face, and quickly realized his error. "I mean, Katniss," Peeta corrected. She rewarded him with a smile, and her face brightened, radiating a light that the moon would have been jealous of.
"I'm not a Lady anymore. I'm...one of your Merry Band, remember?" she asked. Peeta's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded his agreement. Since her speech and subsequent induction into the group two days ago, Peeta had hardly been able to think of anything else. It still seemed almost a dream that Katniss would want to join him…them…at all.
"You're up early, aren't you?" he asked. "I think you're the first person I've ever seen awake at this hour besides those on watch. Unless I woke you?" He gave her a worried look.
Katniss shook her head. "Between the mockingjays, Delly's snoring, and my excitement for today, I couldn't sleep."
Peeta laughed as one of the aforementioned birds landed between them, chirping happily in imitation of his chuckles. "I don't know why they are so comfortable with you, but it pleases me that they are," he said, smiling in Katniss' direction, watching as the mockingjay hopped towards her.
Katniss whistled a soft four note melody, which the mockingjay immediately took up as it alighted towards the trees. They both stood still and listened as more birds took up the call. "Do they really not come near unless you are somewhere alone?" Katniss asked wonderingly. "I remember Finnick saying that they usually don't." Peeta nodded again.
"They aren't...normal birds. Far more intelligent. It's said that if you are taught correctly, you can understand their songs and even enlist their aid to cast enchantments." Katniss gave him a questioning glance, to which Peeta shrugged. "The mockingjays are some of the last remaining remnants of 'Old Panem,' when magic was still prevalent in the world. Jabberjays, Trackerjackers, any other type of Mutt, and a few other animals still have their special abilities. Or at least that's what I was told once," he finished, wondering if Katniss would now think him insane. He looked at Katniss warily, but she only bit her lip, seemingly lost in thought.
The truth was Peeta did sometimes understand the birds, thanks to Mag's long-ago tutelage. It was something he had never shared with anyone, partially because the thought of explaining the word he heard coming from their beaks most often made Peeta uncomfortable. King wasn't exactly something that made sense to call a poor homeless boy without any family honor.
What was even more striking was to Peeta, though, was that he had heard the mockingjays cry Queen when Katniss was near. That, at least, made sense to Peeta, for she was more fair, brave, and strong than any woman he had ever met. There was no doubt in his mind that she deserved the title.
"Do people...have any abilities?" Katniss hedged, her voice hesitant, obviously fearing she sounded like a fool. Peeta met her gaze with a serious expression, not failing to notice the faraway look in her eyes, as though she was lost in a memory. He wondered what she was thinking about.
"I think a few may," he said, thinking of Mags, and her mysterious sayings and hints of things to come...or at least events she believed would come. Peeta was never sure what to make of her words when Mags had made her odd foretellings. Katniss bobbed her head, a contemplative look still on her face.
...He will remember when the moon joins the sun. They will need each other to survive…
Peeta startled as a man's voice echoed through his head. It was one that Peeta was certain he'd never heard before in his life, and yet, it sounded familiar somehow...almost like a memory. Where had that come from? And what the hell did that mean?! He looked at Katniss in panic, hoping she hadn't noticed his sudden discomfort, but judging by her concerned expression, Peeta hadn't been so lucky.
"Are you unwell, Peeta?"
"Yeah," he responded with a laugh, running a hand nervously through his hair. Katniss arched her eyebrow, skepticism and disappointment marring her features. Peeta almost believed he could trust Katniss with what he'd just experienced, but his fear over the vision was too great. He grinned at her widely. "So, you're looking forward to your first lessons in weapons today, then?"
Katniss narrowed her eyes at him, leaving Peeta with the feeling that he hadn't fooled her by his deflection at all. But she answered, "Yes. I did have some lessons when I was young, but I'd like to improve my skills." Peeta frowned at her somewhat blunt reply.
"Well then, I'll go easy on you," he said jokingly, but the deepening of her scowl told Peeta immediately that he had said the wrong thing.
"I don't want you to go easy on me," she said angrily. "I'm not some fragile flower that you need to take care of. I will master everything the others can do."
Peeta held up his hands, wanting so badly to tell her that he thought no such thing, that he had just been joking. "Katniss, I…" he started, reaching for her hand, but she turned away from him. Katniss' braid, whether accidentally or on purpose, struck him across the face as she went. He watched her, feeling abruptly bereft, as she stalked back across the glen in the direction of Delly's tent. Peeta felt as though they had taken two steps back in their…Did he even dare call it a friendship?...in a matter of seconds.
As she reached the edge of the clearing, she swiveled around to address him once more. "Don't go easy on me, Sun Thief," she spat. Peeta's face hardened over Katniss' returned use of the disliked moniker.
"Don't worry. I won't," he replied shortly.
"Good," she returned coldly before marching into the trees, leaving Peeta to look on broodingly.
When he was sure she was gone, Peeta exhaled a long sigh, the memory of when he had almost kissed her on the cliff all at once at the forefront of his mind. That moment suddenly felt like it had happened long ago rather than just a few days before, and the gap between Katniss and himself seemed to have grown from a small stream to a wide ocean.
Peeta quietly made his way back to his tent and collapsed on his bed, determined to get a few hours of sleep before the rest of the group awoke for training, though he resigned himself to the fact that it would likely not be restful. The deep dissatisfaction welling within him over the state of his relationship with Katniss, highlighted once again by their most recent conversation, only forced Peeta to further acknowledge the futility of his denials about his feelings for her.
XXXXX
"That's great, Katniss!" Peeta heard Mitchell call out as he approached the training ground. He smiled at the praise his friend was doling out to her. Given Katniss' obvious determination from earlier, it didn't surprise him in the least. But once he neared the opening in the trees that led out onto the field, he repressed his grin and took on a serious expression.
No matter how often Katniss' actions confounded him, particularly during their conversation earlier, Peeta knew he had to set his own frustrations aside. Today, he would be her teacher, and while in a way, he had admired her claim that she could do everything, it was one notion he had to rid her of. The nature of the band's work required teamwork of utmost precision, where they entrusted one another with their very lives. They depended on each member's ability to recognize their strengths but also their limitations. It was something Katniss needed to understand. He stepped out into the bright sunlight with determined resolve.
Peeta's eyebrows shot up into his hair as he caught sight of the various training groups. Rather than spreading out across the field as usual, it appeared they had all curiously elected to practice closer to one another today. Or rather to one specific group, Peeta realized, observing how all the band member's eyes kept flitting in the direction of Annie, Delly, and Katniss as they practiced with Mitchell. Their curiosity at how a woman of Katniss' social rank would fare in their training yard appeared to have overruled their desire to better themselves.
Peeta noticed Johanna standing a few yards away, swinging her axe in hand with a surprisingly contemplative look on her face. He made his way over to her and quietly asked, "So, how has she done so far, Jo?"
"Well, she's not half-bad, but she still has a ways to go in technique. Although…" Johanna said thoughtfully "...She's adapted easily enough to suggestions for improvement that Mitchell's given, yet she clearly thinks too highly of herself for it." Johanna grimaced. "Still, surprising how fast she's picked it up, for a Capitol brat. And she's obviously determined, I'll give her-." Johanna stopped talking abruptly and whirled so that she was facing Peeta. He looked at Johanna slyly.
"Very clever, Blondie," she cracked angrily, annoyance that Peeta had gotten her to reveal her true assessment of Katniss' abilities stealing over her face. "So you going to give her the first real combat lesson then? Because Mitchell has been way too nice, and she's not that good."
"Johanna, I did just hear you tell me she wasn't half-bad, and I didn't go deaf when you praised her determination," Peeta replied, amused.
Jo rolled her eyes at him. "I also said she has a ways to go and that she thinks too highly of herself. Or did you miss that part while you were admiring her technique?" Jo raised an eyebrow suggestively.
Peeta wrenched his eyes away from Katniss' backside, completely nonplussed over Johanna's statement. "N-no, I didn't," he stammered, lying through his teeth. "But she'll learn...quickly, if you're to be believed."
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't go easy on her." She gave him a candid look. "I know you're totally crushing on the girl."
Peeta snorted, but his face went bright red with embarrassment. "You know I'm serious when I teach people about defense and knowing their own limitations. Of all people, you are the one who should remember that the most. Remember your first lesson?" he added, trying his hardest to distract Johanna from her current focus on his feelings for Katniss. "And she's already requested that I not go soft on her."
"What a shock…" Johanna said sarcastically, disregarding his other comments with a wave of her hand.
A surprising flare of anger sprung up within Peeta at Johanna's words. "She's part of this group now, Johanna. You don't have to like her, but I expect you both to work together, when the time comes," he said sharply. And then he added, "You could try to get to know her. If my memory is correct, you wanted me to dance with her a few nights ago? So why push me if you dislike her that much?"
Johanna rolled her eyes again. "Because I'm one of the people that has known you the longest, and I've never seen you actually happy. And I don't want to see you dead. Neither do Gale or Finnick or any of the other people who love you." Peeta's eyes widened, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of Johanna's words.
"Jo, what do you-" he began, but she walked away from him before he could finish his sentence.
Peeta shook his head. Sometimes Johanna made the least sense of anyone, and right now, he wasn't going to bother trying to do it. He strode towards Katniss, Mitchell, and the other two girls.
"Hey, Peeta," Mitchell said with a grin as he noticed Peeta walking towards him. Peeta bowed his head towards the soldier, but his eyes darted almost involuntarily towards Katniss. Her grey eyes shone darkly at him within her tanned face, and she scowled, letting him know she had not forgotten the morning's conversation before she went back to blocking Delly's sword thrusts. Peeta could see Katniss was much better than the other two beginners already.
"How is our newest recruit doing?" he asked Mitchell quietly.
"Better than I expected, Peet. She's retained whatever lessons she had when she was young and then some. I told her I wouldn't be surprised if we moved her up to the middle group within a few days." Peeta gave him a stern look, and Mitchell had the decency to look a little guilty. "I know you're not too keen to let people get big heads when it comes to their abilities, but it's the truth. I'd liken her to raw fire. Reminds me a bit of Gale, honestly. You know how he sometimes gets." Peeta cringed internally. Even the idea of Gale and Katniss being linked together in some way somehow made him a little nauseous
"Alright," Peeta acknowledged shortly. He moved forward and said, "You're coming along well, Delly," just as Katniss knocked the blonde girl's sword out of her hand. Peeta ignored her look of frustration deliberately.
"Oh, Peeta," Delly giggled. "You know I'm no good. Katniss is already world's better than me."
Peeta shrugged. "Her technique is a bit sloppy, but then it is only the first day. You'd win against more than a few people, Dell. Soon, you'll be able to take me on." He almost smiled when he heard Katniss snort of disbelief, but he still refused to look at her. Delly's pale blue eyes went wide for a second, before a decidedly curious expression crossed her face.
"Maybe…" Delly said "...but I bet Katniss could do that now. Right, Katniss?" She turned towards Katniss with a wide happy smile, seemingly unperturbed by Katniss' snort. It was one of the things Peeta appreciated about Delly the most. She accepted things as they were but saw the good in everything. Her bubbly personality was often a necessity for the group on bad days. He smiled at Delly briefly and turned towards Katniss with eyebrows raised, goading her to answer the question.
Katniss bit her lip before she drew herself up to her full height, which albeit, wasn't very much. But the pride she exuded reminded Peeta of how Katniss had looked on the beach the first day he had seen her, and it caused an undeniable thrill to run through Peeta's body.
"I think so," she said confidently, her eyes flashing at Peeta in challenge.
"Those are bold words, Girl on Fire," Peeta calmly asserted. He was beginning to realize his usual gentle approach when it came to the beginner sword lessons might not be the approach Katniss needed. It excited him in a way he hadn't felt in a long while.
Katniss quirked her head to the side, her cheeks flushing in recall of Darius' words on the night she joined the group. "My name is Katniss," she said in an irritated tone.
"And mine is Peeta," he shot back. "Though you seem to have forgotten that this morning. I just thought you'd like a taste of your own medicine," he finished with a smirk. Katniss' mouth fell open in shock for a second before she swiftly shut it again, her mouth forming into a grim determined line, and color flooded her face. "Ready to learn something about fighting?" he asked cheekily, tugging a wooden sword from his belt, having left his real one back in his tent.
Katniss' scrunched her nose and lifted her sword in front of her with both hands. "Ready," she said curtly.
"Then come at me, if you dare," Peeta demanded, gesturing her towards him with one finger. But he let his hand that was holding his sword drop to his side. He watched Katniss eyes dart to it with a confused expression, which quickly morphed into anger.
"I thought you said you wouldn't go easy on me," she said with an enraged tone.
Peeta answered her lazily, "This is me going easy on you." He knew he was probably enjoying this too much but inciting her fury was far more fun than he'd anticipated, and the way her now overly flushed cheeks accented the dark waves of her hair set Peeta's whole body to tingling. He felt as though he was standing at a precipice, ready to leap into some great beyond, even if it was unclear exactly what it was.
He watched Katniss mouth open, and Peeta expected her to say something more, but instead she darted forward towards him. He spun out of the way just in time, working hard to keep his face in a neutral position rather than revealing the surprise he was feeling. Katniss stumbled past him, and he hit the flat of his sword relatively gently against her thighs to send her tumbling to the dirt.
"Peeta, what the hell?!" Katniss cried as she struggled back to her feet, staring daggers at him.
Peeta gazed back at her calmly. "First rule of combat. Never attack in anger," he said. "It ruins your concentration, makes you less cognizant of your surroundings, and clouds your judgment. Tell me, were you even aware of where my sword was when you charged me or were you just intent on hacking at me because you were angry because of what I was doing?" Katniss gave him a startled look, biting her lip in that way Peeta had come to love.
"I...I didn't know where your sword was," she said, her eyes widening in surprise of that revelation.
Peeta bobbed his head once. "Anger. It'll get you killed, and it's something that a few other members would do well to remember." His eyes flashed briefly in Johanna and Gale's direction, and even though they were talking animatedly to each other, Peeta felt they had been watching him and Katniss a few moments ago. In fact, he felt the eyes and ears of everyone on them.
Peeta lifted his sword in front of him this time. "Alright. Come at me again." Katniss took a deep breath, her eyes flicking once to meet his before she settled them onto his sword. She moved swiftly toward him again, but her expression was serene. She raised her sword above her head to cut down upon him…
...And Peeta nonchalantly stepped to the side, whacking his sword against the back of one of her hands. Katniss let her weapon go with a small yelp of pain, holding her hand against her body. The cry lanced Peeta's heart as painfully as if a real knife were stabbing it, but outwardly, he showed no sympathy. He picked up Katniss' sword and handed it back to her.
"What lesson am I supposed to have learned there?" Katniss gasped, and Peeta was pleased to see that there were no tears in her eyes. Even Peeta hadn't managed that, when Boggs had given him this first combat lesson, those many years ago, but then, he'd also only been five.
"You're not very big," Peeta said simply. "And if we are facing Thread's men or the Royal Guard or Cato's army, you're likely going to be fighting men much taller than yourself. Hacking down at them will do you no good. Look, raise your sword to the level you were at before." He walked towards her as she lifted the weapon upwards, Peeta raising his own simultaneously so that by the time she had hers at an angle where she could possibly strike him, the point of his sword was already pushing lightly into her navel. She jumped away, breathing more heavily than Peeta would have expected. The heat had returned to her cheeks.
Peeta remained silent for a second, a little unsure what to make of her reaction. "Do you see what happens?" he finally said.
"By the time I can get into a good position, you're already t-there," Katniss stumbled. Peeta nodded. He stepped around to Katniss' side and wrapped his arms around hers, trying to tell himself that this was no different than when he'd shown the other women these maneuvers, but his traitorous body tingled at the contact with Katniss' body. She felt so small, but so strong, and the scent of wildflowers wafting from her hair nearly overwhelmed him.
Peeta felt Katniss stiffen a little, but he willed all his focus into guiding her movements, showing her how to cut at someone via their side, demonstrating that if she kept her elbows tucked in, she would have enough power to jab upwards into her opponent's belly. He wondered if she thought this was barbaric to learn, to have to accept there might be a time when she would have to end someone's life, even if it was in self-defense.
But then, the more they practiced, the less and less Peeta thought about those things…And the more and more, he became distracted by the tendrils of hair that were falling loose from her braid, by the little droplets of sweat that clung to the back of her neck, and by the way her head and back fell against his chest, her ass occasionally brushing his groin. The world shrunk away from Peeta, reducing upon itself until all he could see was Katniss.
His heart thudded painfully in his chest as he angled her hips to demonstrate how to complete a particularly tricky movement. To anyone else, it probably just looked like he was correcting her stance, but they weren't close enough to hear the barely audible moan that dropped from Katniss' mouth at his touch. Peeta felt his heart fling itself off that imagined precipice into the void, shedding the last vestiges of his denial of her as it did so. In truth, Peeta had been lost from the first moment he had laid eyes on Katniss.
Peeta stepped away from her, struggling to control his shuddering breath. Katniss looked back at him, her breathing equally harsh. He had to remind himself that there was still one more lesson to teach her. "That...was really good, Katniss," he panted. "Show me those maneuvers without help this time." Peeta watched her go through her paces with a pleased smile on his lips that only grew wider when Katniss rewarded him with a rare one of her own after she had finished.
He raised his sword once more against her, saying in challenge, "Come at me." Katniss straightened, and she adjusted herself confidently into the attack position that he had taught her. She quirked her head as though to say Now I won't go easy on you.
She does everything perfectly, Peeta thought, as Katniss bounded towards him. She held her sword precisely in the way he had taught her as she moved sinuously over the ground. Peeta swung his sword, and she dodged it in the way she had been instructed, bringing her own sword around to jab at his side. Peeta spun away, parrying her blow, the clack of their swords echoing in the air. Katniss ducked under his arm and slid away before thrusting at him again, her grey eyes shining with exhilaration, but as she stretched to get to him, Peeta saw a small area of her body that she'd left exposed.
He let go of his sword with one of his hands, reaching in to deliver a soft blow to her ribcage that he knew wouldn't harm her but would drive the air from her lungs. She let out a huff of air and pulled back, too stunned to prevent Peeta from hitting her sword out of her hands. "That wasn't fair," she said, but it wasn't in the petulant way people usually reacted when Peeta made a move others did not expect. Peeta realized Katniss sounded almost...awed.
"Last lesson for the morning," he said seriously. "The only thing that matters is what someone can do. Just because you fight fair, doesn't mean your enemy will. Snow in particular." Peeta's mind immediately went to Primrose, locked away in Snow's castle. By the stricken look on Katniss' face, he could tell her mind was there as well.
He stooped to pick up Katniss' sword once again and placed it back in her hand, whispering, "It'll be ok, Katniss. We'll get her." Katniss looked up at him, her eyes wide, but for the first time, Peeta thought he detected trust in her grey pools.
"I know," she murmured. They stared at one another for a few seconds, until Peeta's eyes drifted down, seemingly of their own accord, to Katniss' lips. They looked so soft…
A sudden sting of pain lit across the back of Peeta's thighs, and he buckled to the ground. "Ouch!" he cried out, mouth falling open when he saw Katniss holding her sword, a triumphant expression on her face. "Katniss, what the hell?!" he asked in echo of her earlier words.
She shrugged, but her eyes glinted with laughter, even as the scowl remained on her face. "I was just practicing."
Peeta snorted and propped himself up on his elbows, intrigued by the way Katniss' eyes raked over his body. She seemed to be paying special attention to where his shirt had ridden up his torso, exposing his abdomen to the outside world. "Our battle was over long before you got me," he said with amusement. "I think it's fair to say you cheated."
"Well, you said yourself that the only thing that matters is what a person can do. I'm just trying to figure it out," she said teasingly. She stepped over him daintily and cast one last look back at him. "And I'm still wondering what you can do, too." Peeta's mouth fell open as Katniss sauntered away. Somehow, he understood that she wasn't talking about sword training.
XXXXX
"Fucking hell," Gale grumbled roughly, staring down the target range in disbelief. Peeta ducked his head to hide his smile, but he knew his shoulders were still quaking in silent laughter.
"I told you," Katniss said. She glanced sideways at Peeta, and he winked at her, inducing a small but warm smile to form on her face.
"Yeah…" Gale answered. Peeta could almost see the displeasure radiating from his friend's body. Gale wasn't used to being beaten, especially be someone who had only held a bow and arrow for the first time today.
After the morning break and lunch, everyone had again gathered at the training field for some target training. There were few only a few in the group who were really adept enough to hit a moving target, but he still required them to practice. The situations they found themselves were too varied in their dangers for Peeta not to prepare them as best he could. Everyone got the choice whether to practice with a bow or an axe but most preferred the bow.
When they had arrived at the field, Katniss had walked over to the pile of bows before anyone else and snatched one up immediately. Peeta had watched her from the back of the group as she ran her fingers over the weapon with an expression that he could only describe as wonder. Peeta recognized in her face the same feelings he had felt when Boggs had put a bow into his hands for the first time.
Peeta had shown her the proper grip and basic stance to shoot, and then, much to his and everyone's complete shock, she had managed to land her arrow at the edge of her target on the first try. She had been sending arrow after arrow into her target since then, and while Peeta still saw a lot of room for improvement in her technique, her natural skill was obvious.
Katniss' talent had only been accentuated further in the past few minutes when she had soundly beaten Gale in a shooting contest. She had boldly challenged him to a shooting contest after he had carelessly remarked that targets weren't difficult to hit when they weren't moving. Peeta had almost punched him, but much to his surprise, Johanna got there first. Her first had been shortly followed by a sharp reminder from Jo about how imperfectly Gale used to shoot. Peeta had noticed Katniss' eyes widen at the usually hostile girl's sudden defense of her. But then Katniss had proudly announced she would win, a promise she had fulfilled by beating him 10 to 8. Gale had been reduced to silent shock up until the point he'd uttered that curse.
"Looks like you're better with traps and your crossbow, Gale," Peeta said, when he'd composed himself. "And it looks like we have a new archer in the group," he added, not even trying to hide his pleasure at Katniss' skill. Katniss' eyes shone with happiness.
"Alright, everyone. That's it for the afternoon!" he called out loudly, breaking out in another smile at the tired but grateful grins the rest of the group cast back at him. It was rare that he let them conclude a day's training this early, but Peeta was feeling generous today. Everyone trudged back towards the woods while Peeta picked up the weaponry that needed to be put back into the small hutch they kept for them just inside the tree line.
"Peeta?" Katniss' tentative voice suddenly broke the silence. Peeta looked up, startled. He hadn't noticed that Katniss hadn't left with the others.
"Is something wrong?" he asked confusedly.
Katniss shifted from one foot to the other with a mildly nervous expression on her face. "Rue suggested that I ask...I mean, I was just wondering...Could I practice a little longer today?" Katniss blushed when she saw Peeta's eyes go wide with surprise. "I, I know Rue said the rules are that no one gets to be out here alone, just in case of an accident, so I know I'm asking you to stay out longer, and I understand if you want to break for the day like everyone else, but I...the bow…" She waved down at her weapon "...It feels like I was made for it, like it's freedom, like it's-"
"Katniss stop," Peeta laughed, holding up his hands to stay her nervous rambling. "I get it. Of course, I'll stay out here with you." His heart jumped in his chest at the warm smile she gave him.
"Thank you," she said quietly. She turned around and began to send more arrows down the range while he continued to pick up the weaponry. Peeta observed her for a moment before he crossed the field to store the weapons he had gathered.
When Peeta returned, he found Katniss in much the same way he had left her, but her bearing had changed from one of joy to one of frustration. She stood rigid, her body tense and movements jerky, as she sent arrow after arrow towards the targets in rapid succession. Each one struck farther and farther from the targets' centers, until finally Katniss' missed entirely.
"Damn it!" she cried out, her shoulders slumping in defeat. Peeta watched her silently as she brushed an angry tear from her eye and threw the bow onto the ground. Finally, he spoke.
"It's your first day, Katniss. You're not going to hit every one right on target." Katniss jumped at his voice. She turned away from him to hastily brush more tears from her eyes. Peeta walked to stand in front of her and lightly ran his hand along her cheek, coaxing her to look at him. Katniss seemed to shudder at his touch, prompting him to drop his hand quickly, but he was still grateful that she did not look away. "That's what I've been trying to teach you today," he said gently. "No one's perfect."
Katniss sighed. "You don't miss. Rue told me that too. She's never seen you miss. She said no one has ever seen you miss a shot." She stared up at Peeta, as if daring him to contradict what she had been told. Peeta sighed back at her.
"I've also had years upon years of practice, Katniss. Like I said before, it's your first day." He nudged her playfully. "And besides, I do miss." Katniss gave him a skeptical glare, to which Peeta responded with a smile. "It happens, I promise. Not often, I'll admit that, but it happens." Katniss nodded slowly and turned her head towards the target line.
"But what was I doing wrong?" she exhaled, tugging on her braid with an irritated look. "I was shooting so well earlier, and then I just started shooting them wider, until finally…" she gestured towards where her last arrow had landed in the grass.
"You were shooting them too fast and missed. And then you let your anger about it get the best of you and tensed up. Remember lesson number 1?" Peeta asked, his eyes twinkling.
Katniss scowled at him. "Shouldn't I be able to shoot them rapidly? I don't think the Royal Guard is going to wait for me to find my proper stance."
Peeta threw up his hands. "First day, Katniss. It's the first day. Stop being so hard on yourself," he laughed. "Yes, shooting them at a fast rate is important, but first, you have to be able to shoot each one with the proper technique. It doesn't matter what rate you shoot them at if you can't hit your target. Here…" He swiped her bow off the ground and pulled out an arrow from his own quiver, knocking it into place. Peeta handed the weapon back to her. "Now, take your time, focus on what you were taught today, and shoot."
Katniss looked at him closely for a moment before she set her legs and adjusted her grip, aiming down the field. Peeta knew he should be looking for flaws in her stance but in the seconds before she let go, he was caught up yet again in her beauty, mesmerized by the way her lithe body tensed with anticipation of the arrow's coming release. She discharged the bowstring, and they both watched the arrow fly. It landed in one of target's legs with a loud thwack, the sound reverberating loudly in the surrounding silent wood.
"Damn it!" Katniss cried again. She made to throw the bow on the ground again, but this time, Peeta was there to stop her.
"Don't do that," he said quietly, wrapping his hands around hers to prevent her from dropping it.
"It's no good. I'm no good," Katniss said. She struggled against his strong grip, trying to yank her hands from his grasp, but Peeta only tightened his hold on her, refusing to let go. Eventually, Katniss gave up and leaned her back against his chest, panting for air.
Peeta stood there frozen for a second, his heart pounding as it always did when Katniss was close to him. It felt so...right...to have Katniss in his arms, almost as though she had always been meant to be there. Finally, Peeta realized what he had to do, even though he was terrified this would not be what Katniss wanted to hear. But Peeta was tired of fighting his heart.
He leaned down so that his lips were only millimeters from her ear. Resisting the urge to suck on the soft, tender skin behind her earlobe with great effort, Peeta instead said, "You, Katniss Everdeen, are remarkable." He heard Katniss' sharp intake of breath, spurring him on. "I thought...well, originally, we all thought you were just some spoiled, entitled, Capitol puppet." He felt Katniss tense and try to pull away, but he wouldn't let her go.
"Please let me finish this," he begged. "You see, I did think those things…but...very quickly, Katniss, I began to see how wrong I'd been. You were so kind to Rue, and then Delly and Annie, and then to everyone else. You stopped fighting us, opened up to us, and showed how brave you are by choosing to join us and go against Snow. I...I honestly can't explain how happy I was when you asked to join us...to join me. You love so fiercely; it slays me. But it's so evident in the way you talk about your sister and in what you did for her. And the way you've thrown yourself wholeheartedly into working, into training..." he laughed.
Peeta brought the bow up, making sure her hands stayed beneath his own, guiding her body to move in time with his. She fit so perfectly next to him, and the way she followed his movements so fluidly made Peeta almost sure that Katniss felt the same. "You're demanding and willful, hard-headed and exacting, and you're just so damn stubborn..." he whispered, before they released the arrow together.
It hit the bullseye.
"...But I wouldn't have it any other way," Peeta finished. He finally loosened his grip on Katniss and let his hands drop to his sides, waiting for her response. Katniss slowly turned around until Peeta was looking deep into her shining grey eyes.
"You...you really feel that way? About me?" she asked, her voice raw with emotion in a way that Peeta had never heard before.
He nodded and took a step towards her, not stopping until their torsos were only inches apart. "I don't think there's been a day since we've met that you haven't surprised me in some way, Katniss. And from the moment you stepped out of that carriage, I've wanted you." Peeta paused to take a deep breath, knowing he'd just crossed a line that he would never be able to return from. "For...for a long time, I didn't want to accept that, but I'm through with denying that you aren't the most beautiful woman I've ever encountered, in so, so many ways." Peeta looked down at her, embarrassed at the fact that his entire body trembled over his declaration.
Katniss stared up at him with a shocked expression on her face, her breaths coming in short gasps until Peeta felt compelled to heave out a miserable sounding "I've offended you. I beg your pardon." He turned to go, reminding himself that this wasn't the first time he'd misread someone's feelings for him.
"Peeta! Wait!" Katniss nearly shouted. Peeta felt her catch one of his hands in both of hers, pulling him back around. He barely had time to register what was happening before Katniss' mouth was crashing onto his own.
Peeta stood there stunned, his mind barely able to process the way Katniss' soft warm lips felt against his. Her breasts were pressed against his chest, and she wrapped her hands around his neck, only to tug gently on the curls at the back of his neck. But his paralysis lasted only a moment, for Peeta found himself dropping the bow in his hands to wrap his arms around her, pulling Katniss tightly into him to deepen the kiss.
Peeta ran one hand up and down her back before he settled it into her hair, the other remaining at Katniss' waist to keep her against him. Their mouths moved with one another seamlessly in a dance that Peeta knew he would never tire of. His whole body flooded with warmth, such was his joy at her reciprocated affection. Finally, they pulled back from one another, gasping for air, but they did not let go of one another.
"I feel the same, Peeta," Katniss panted, running her hands along his chest, eyes wide in a silent plea for him to believe her. "Please don't go."
Peeta's face split into a wide grin, and he tugged her up for another kiss.
XXXXX
Peeta couldn't stop smiling. He had arrived at the bonfire over a half an hour ago, but the second he had caught sight of Katniss, he hadn't been able to control his smile nor had he been able to check himself from shooting Katniss secret glances. Based on the way her eyes kept meeting his, it appeared Katniss was unable to stop herself from doing the same.
They had returned to the camp shortly after their second kiss, not by choice, but because Delly had come looking for them. They had jumped apart when they'd heard her loud call, barely parting before the blond girl had come into their view. Delly had announced that the horses had somehow gotten out of the makeshift paddock they had for them, and Peeta was needed to assist with their capture. Peeta had run off but not before bestowing Katniss with a look of regret that he hoped conveyed how much he would have rather stayed there with her. And when he'd finally returned to the fire, having recaptured all the horses with the aide of the other men, Katniss had drawn his gaze like a moth to a flame.
Peeta surreptitiously raked his eyes over Katniss and sighed. The longing to have her in his arms again was growing with each passing second.
"You seem to be in an awfully good mood tonight, Peet," Finnick's laughing voice echoed from over his head. "I don't think I've seen you smile this much since that time we left that baron with naught but a woman's undergarments to wear. Poor chap."
Peeta laughed in response. "That was your idea, if I remember correctly. Gale was pissed off we had to take clothes that we didn't need. I think my favorite part was when he made you wear said clothes until we could pawn them off."
Finnick wrinkled his nose at the memory. "I'd forgotten that. Why he didn't just let me dump them like I wanted to, I don't know. Something about punishing me about wasting time...or good money…or something…" Finnick shrugged and sat down next to Peeta. "But it's Gale, and who listens to him anyway?" he called out loudly. Gale glared at him from across the circle as the whole group burst out laughing.
"Can't you leave him alone for once, Finn?" Peeta asked, though he couldn't suppress his grin.
"Nah. It's too much fun to bate Mr. Serious." He laughed again, and then nudged Peeta. "But back to you, dear leader. What's put you in a good mood tonight?"
Peeta gazed at his friend, deliberately keeping his face neutral. "Just pleased with the work the group did today. It's obvious how much the others are improving, don't you think?"
"Uh huh…But they've always been doing that. You make them practice enough." He looked suspiciously at Peeta, but Peeta continued to wear his indifferent mask. Finnick then waved his hand across the circle. "Our newest member looks particular happy tonight, too. I'm so used to seeing a scowl on her face that it's a bit of a shock to see her smile. Kind of like the feeling I get when Gale graces us with one every eon or so. You wouldn't know why she's so pleased tonight, would you?"
"Perhaps it's because she beat Gale? Or just enjoyed her lessons as a whole?" Peeta calmly suggested. Then, because he knew Finnick would probably comment on Katniss' private bow lesson after the rest had finished, he added, "I'm sure she'd appreciate a session on the use of the trident sometime." Finnick raised his eyebrows at him, like he suspected that Peeta wasn't telling the truth, but said no more, recognizing the firm tone Peeta used when he was done talking.
Peeta turned his attention back across the fire, but his stomach lurched wildly when he saw that Darius was again talking to Katniss. "You shouldn't be jealous. She kissed you for fifteen minutes straight, not him," a small voice in Peeta's head reminded him, but the pain that Cashmere had wrought upon his heart still held sway over him. It was all too obvious that Darius, his kind, always laughing friend, also had feelings for Katniss, and a fear that Peeta could lose her even as he'd just attained her welled within his soul. He balled his hands into fists, struggling to resist the urge to walk over to Katniss and kiss her, to claim what was his before everyone else.
"I'm going to bed, Finnick," he announced abruptly. "Let everyone know they can rest tomorrow. Day after, we start preparing supplies again and up the training regimen. A week and a half from now we're back on the road. It feels like we've been here too long already." Finnick frowned at Peeta and his sudden shift in mood but said he would inform the group of the plan.
Peeta picked up his bow from where it lay beside him and walked away in the direction of his quarters, but just when he caught sight of his tent, a sharp crack rent the air. Peeta whipped out an arrow from his quiver and spun around swiftly, ready to confront whatever foe had come upon him. Instead, his blue eyes met ones of silver, ones that were full of alarm...and fear.
"Katniss!" Peeta yelped, dropping his bow to the ground. He rushed forward to take her into his arms for an apology, but she pushed against his chest with both hands to stop him.
"Were you going to shoot me?" she asked angrily.
"I...I…" Peeta stammered, finally managing to utter a soft "No."
Katniss narrowed her eyes at him. "Because what would you have to shoot? There aren't any animals wilder than the goats, nothing that would harm you. There aren't any enemies here."
Peeta sighed heavily. "I know, Katniss. I know. I just...you don't understand...sometimes I just…" Peeta stopped talking, running a hand through his hair. His past was suddenly looming large before him, and he was not willing to confront it, not with this moonless night bearing down upon him, ready to swallow him whole. There had been too many nights like this when he was young, too many nights when he was alone.
"Peeta?" Katniss' voice managed to break through his dark thoughts, a reminder that for once, he was not actually alone. He stared at her with wide eyes while her silver ones examined his face. He could see her struggling to discern what was going on inside his tumultuous head.
"I'm sorry," Peeta sighed.
Katniss reached up and placed a chaste but warm kiss on his lips, touching his face gently as she did so. "What happened to you, Peeta?" she whispered. She continued to touch him, her fingers feathering lightly over his hair, his cheeks, his jaw, before she continued down his neck and arms, finally intertwining her fingers with his. Peeta understood that she was trying to reassure him...to let him know that he was safe here. "Who hurt you?" Katniss whispered so quietly that Peeta almost didn't hear her. He gripped her to himself.
"I can't, Katniss. Not like this," he choked out, his voice breaking with sorrow as a thousand nightmares pressed for his attention. Katniss looked up at him in confusion, but Peeta met her gaze mutely. To his great surprise, her expression changed into one of understanding.
"I get them, too. The nightmares don't stop, even when I'm awake. It's hard not to think of the bad things," she said.
Peeta jerked his head in agreement, still ashamed of his reaction. "I promise, Katniss. I'll tell you my story. Just, not tonight."
"Okay," Katniss accepted.
Peeta looked around confusedly. "Won't they notice you're missing back at the campfire?" They had not spoken of it directly, but he had gotten the impression that Katniss wished to keep whatever was happening between them a secret for the time being. Peeta suspected it had to do with Katniss wanting to prove herself to the rest on her own strength rather than through having a relationship with their leader, which he understood that and was willing to accept it...for now.
Katniss shook her head at him. "They actually knew I was coming to see you." Peeta's brow furrowed with more confusion. "You see, Finnick announced that you were giving everyone the day off tomorrow, and then Rue reminded me that it would be a good time to make my request of you."
"Request?"
Katniss tugged on his hair playfully. "I saw the mockingjay first on the day we got here, didn't I? Delly explained to me how the first person to spot a mockingjay near you whenever you arrive in a new place gets to ask you do anything they want."
"Within reason," Peeta said, starting to grin. "And what does m'lady ask of me?"
"I want you to teach me to hunt tomorrow." Katniss smiled widely as Peeta's face lit up at the prospect of a whole day with her.
"I suppose I could endure a whole day with you," Peeta replied. He pulled her up, smiling when she let out a startled squeak, but her surprise was quickly forgotten as Peeta brought his mouth down to hers.
Their lips easily took up the sinuous dance from earlier, as though this was not just their third kiss, but the thousandth. Peeta ran his hands up into Katniss' hair, releasing the braid that held it in place, and relished the feel of her dark waves loosening under his fingers. He clutched both of her cheeks in his hands and deepened the kiss, with Katniss' ensuing moan sending all the blood in Peeta's body rushing towards his groin.
"You are so beautiful," he murmured while he paused to catch his breath. He looked at her flushed cheeks and bright eyes hungrily before drawing her back to him.
"Peeta," Katniss whimpered.
Peeta thought the sound of his name on her lips was one of the most intoxicating things he'd ever heard. He sucked her top lip between his and ran his tongue along it, his need to taste her too much to bear any longer. Katniss gasped but gripped his shoulders tightly, encouraging Peeta to continue his ministrations. He tenderly repeated the action, and then began to probe her mouth, running his tongue along her bottom lip and palate, before he finally started to massage her tongue with his.
Katniss pressed into him more firmly, and Peeta groaned in pleasure as she brushed along his now rock hard member. Peeta thrust against her to induce more of the exquisite feeling without a thought to what Katniss might think. She pulled back from him, a mildly amused look on her face, but before Peeta could utter an apology, Katniss ran her hand over the front of his pants and grasped him through them. Peeta gasped at the sensation; it felt so good. Meanwhile, Katniss smirked at what he knew was a look of utter shock on his face.
"To be continued," Katniss murmured. She placed one last quick kiss on his lips before she sauntered off into the darkness. Peeta stood where she'd left him, feeling completely dazed. He wasn't sure he'd be able to focus entirely on hunting tomorrow.
Author's Note: Thank you again for waiting. As always, I hope you found it worth the wait. And remember to please review! Special last shout out to peetabreadgirl...She requested that Katniss get 'one good shot in' on Peeta during the sword scene. I only hope I did it justice ;)
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