" ... and then, we had to sneak past this big ... thing."
Katniss giggled a little, "No, you have to say what it was."
Smiling, I shook my head "Well, it was a mutt-"
"Obviously."
"It's like if you combined a bear and a tiger."
"Really, they made you sneak past that?"
Yes. And I only pissed myself a little bit. But I am sure as hell not bringing up that part of the story.
"Well, it was chained to the ground ..."
Katniss smiled dryly. "yeah, sure."
While we were walking into the woods, Katniss asked about my training. This lead the conversation to the final test I underwent before becoming a Peacekeeper, and by extension how the test required me to sneak past a mutt.
Katniss and I have been hunting together for months now, and it has gotten to the point where we can speak to each other freely. I have mer her family a few times. Primrose is skilled with medicine, so I usually bring her medical supplies that would otherwise be hard to come by (she lights up whenever I arrive with a roll of gauze or a new syringe). And unlike mine, Katniss's mother is actually a decent person. It is a shame Katniss and her mother are not on good terms, but hopefully that can be mended.
Now Mother is probably beating a bunch of other children in the Community Home.
That can't be proven.
Come on, Peeta, you know her. You know what she's capable of.
Don't think about that.
I just shake such thoughts away, not wanting to get worked up over something I can neither prove nor help. When we finally reach the cabin, we go inside and sit down across from each other on the floor.
"I'll light the cooking fire this time." I offered, but Katniss shook her head.
"You did the last two times; it's my turn now."
As katniss bent over the hearth and went about setting up the cooking fire, I could not help but notice how beautiful she was. Beautiful and brave and determined, but kind as well. Even right now I can feel my heartbeat rising.
"Why do you stare at me?" It was a simple question. Katniss did not have an accusatory tone, and when she looked at me she did not appear displeased.
Well, might as well be honest with her.
"Because you're breathtaking."
Katniss shook her head.
I pressed on, "No, it's true. You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen or will ever see. You could have anyone you want."
Katniss took me aback by what she asked me next, "And who do you want?"
As much as I would like to embrace her right now, I feel like that might not be the best approach. Instead I decide to describe the woman my heart is set on.
"She the darkest hair I have ever seen, and eyes I could drown in. And that's only what's on the outside: I've never met as kind and brave a woman."
Katniss seems to understand who I am referring to; there is something in her eyes I can not claim to have seen before. Perhaps I just did not notice it. If I had to describe it, I would call it a mix between hunger and desire.
"You really think this?"
I scoot closer to her, until we are right next to each other. "Yes. And even thinking about it has my heart beating fast enough to frighten most doctors."
I brush my hand gently against her cheek, and Katniss closes the space between us and kisses me.
She's actually kissing me.
...
Author's Note: I'm not gonna describe further, because this story is rated T and I'd like to keep it that way.
