Prompt: Hi. My birthday is May 16. May I request a fic that is a cross between soulmates and friends to lovers? Any rating that fits is fine, but I prefer mature. Thanks so much.
A/N: So I loved this idea, in my head, Panem is a little rural set in a sort of steampunk setting blended with Neo-Classical and Victorian sensibilities. For the purpose of this story, Gale is the same age as Katniss and Peeta. Prim however is a pesky 12-year-old girl. It's off canon - & AU where the Games do not exist but there still is a Reaping.
Rating: M for mature
"Have you ever loved someone so much it hurts to breathe," Delly sighed out loud?
Katniss nodded mutely as they stared at the boys playing a game of stickball. Typically she played too, but today she was tired and wanted to nap. Not that Delly was letting her; she was talking a mile a minute. The crack of the bat made Katniss glance up. The Seam against the Merchants, it was even thus far. These were the last vestiges of school before the real world commenced. Friday would be their last day of school.
Only two more days left of school after today. Two days left of freedom. These last few lackadaisical days were the last before the Reaping. Katniss was trying to enjoy her lunch hour. Katniss relished the quiet while Delly and Madge liked to talk. Well Delly more than Madge, but when her two friends got together they often chatted more than two Jabberjays. They were idly laying on the grass. Most of their classmates were soaking up the warm hazy day.
"It won't matter much who we might die for Deliliah," Madge said. "The only thing that matters is what this determines." Madge held up her wrist showing the purple splotch on her fair skin.
In Panem, all children were born with a splotch. On the Reaping Day upon graduation, they were given an elixir that revealed a symbol. Whoever had the same symbol was one's mate.
"I hope I do not get you," Delly said to Madge. "I am fond of boys."
"Why? Do you find me unseemly?" Madge cheekily winked and blew an air kiss.
"You are impossible," Delly huffed.
Madge giggled, but then she glanced at Katniss and moved closer. Katniss stiffened when Madge got close. She didn't like when people invaded her personal space. "What?" Katniss grimaced.
"You're staring at him again," Madge said in a low voice.
"Am not." Katniss moved away from Madge and forced herself to look away from the game, and more specifically away from Peeta. She turned when she heard Leevy call out to Delly. Delly, being sweet and at times gullible, went to speak to the Seam girl.
Leevy was the leader amongst the Seam girls. It was widely known she had an interest in Gale. Delly dared not voice her own infatuation with Gale. She only confided her secret desire to Madge and Katniss. Leevy wasn't someone to trifle with; she did not have an easy constitution. Leevy had the ability to verbally demolish those who she thought might also be interested in Gale.
"We are going to have to rescue Delly," Katniss muttered.
"Not again."
Delly's face was red and her eyes were downcast. Leevy stood over her with a smug look on her face.
They stood and walked over. They could hear Leevy calling Delly fat.
"Hey!" Katniss growled at Leevy.
"Oh," Leevy started.
"Are you alright?" Madge asked Delly, whose eyes were bright with unshed tears.
Delly nodded but said nothing.
"What do you want, Everdeen?"
"I want you to leave my friend alone," Katniss responded.
"She needs to…"
"To what? Leave Gale alone," Katniss finished for her.
Leevy's eyes flashed, her lips thinned and her face turned red. "Gale is…"
"Gale will be reaped with whoever has his-'' Katniss pointed to her splotch- "Identical mark. I frankly find him gross and would rather be run over by one of the Peacekeeper's transports."
All of Leevy's friends laughed nervously.
"You are such a strange creature, Katniss Everdeen," Leevy spat.
"Why, because I do not wish to be paired with a boy I consider to be a brother?" Katniss shrugged.
This brought on full giggles.
"It is true; they look exceedingly alike." Delly giggled. "They could be related."
Leevy narrowed her eyes at Delly. As she did so, the ball fell between them.
They all turned to face the guys. All of the guys playing stickball were staring at them with half grins on their faces.
"Hey Del's," Gale called. "Throw me the ball."
Roy Smothers stood next to Gale. "Hey Leevy," he called.
Leevy ignored him.
Roy was a hulking massive figure with a deep gravelly voice. He was stubborn and not easily swayed. Gale called him the enforcer. Not even the Peacekeepers dared to cross Roy. Katniss was glad he wasn't on the Merchant side; he liked to cover 1st base. She couldn't imagine having to slide into first base with him looming over her.
Delly turned pink and looked at Leevy briefly before grabbing the ball and throwing it to Gale. He grinned and winked at her before saying, "Thank you."
Roy nodded at them, but it was clear that his attention was on Leevy.
"Ugh," Leevy said, moving away. She took her friends with her.
Peeta stared at Katniss, as a strong gust of wind mussed his ash-blond curls. He waved at her before turning back to play. Katniss became envious of the wind. She wondered what his hair felt like.
"You should say something to him."
"We talk every day." It was true; she did speak to Peeta every day; they were the closest of friends. He was the only person she could bear her soul to. No one knew her better.
Madge grunted.
"Stop it."
"Katniss." Madge took Katniss by the shoulder. "Peeta likes you. And by the way, you look at him...I think...I believe you feel the same way.''
Katniss's heartbeat so hard she couldn't even hear what Madge said. She stopped listening after Peeta likes you. Katniss didn't want to believe it. She wanted to cry and at the same time shout. Then she wanted to grind her teeth at the world because it was unfair.
Just then the bell rang for the students to march back into school. Katniss quickly gathered her belongings and ran inside. Reaching her desk, she sat down out of breath, looking toward the blackboard, unable to focus. Was it true? She asked herself, did Peeta like her? She supposed he did. They were, after all, the most devoted of friends. She hid her fondness for Peeta, but she never expected him to reciprocate those feelings.
They did have a bond; it began after her father passed away. Peeta brought her family bread in the middle of the night. The first two weeks Katniss did not know who was bringing the bread. It wasn't exactly fresh bread, but it wasn't the stale bread many in the Seam purchased. It was a bread that was slightly burned or somehow damaged and wasn't deemed good enough to sell.
Her sister thought it was the baker. Katniss couldn't see the newly widowed baker bringing them bread. Katniss stayed up one night and discovered it was Peeta. He, a Merchant, crossed over into the Seam to bring her family bread. The only time a Merchant and someone from the Seam came together was in school, when they went into town to purchase the necessities, or when they gathered at the Justice building for the Great Reaping.
For some odd reason matches between Merchants and the Seam were far and few. Her parents were one of the lone examples. Their marriage was successful until the day her father died of an illness that swept through Panem. The same illness that killed Peeta's mother.
The people in the Seam were a proud people, but they were dirt poor. When the illness began, the dire situation in the Seam became worse. Her mother's healing abilities were highly sought after. When Katniss's father passed away, her mother fell into a deep depression and could not take care of herself or her children. She could not even rouse herself to help the infirmed. They were hurtling toward a bleak future. Then Peeta changed the very course of her life's path. The bread he provided them gave her hope and reminded her that all was not lost.
It was not permissible for a female to engage in a sport that was designated only for men, such as hunting. However, Peeta made Katniss recall her father's natural vocation. Katniss took it upon herself to feed her family and to keep a roof over their heads during their year of mourning and beyond. In the forest, she had her bow and arrows along with the trousers she used to hunt in.
Her first exchange was with the Mellarks. The fresh meat was welcome. Katniss extended her trade with the Cartwrights and then to other discreet members of the Merchant class. No one betrayed her confidence as fresh meat was expensive and Katniss was a great shot. If caught, she could get in trouble and they'd lose their source of fresh meat.
After Katniss thanked Peeta for the bread, he became her great friend, her confidante. Perhaps Madge was wrong. Gossip always led to trouble and heartache. Katniss didn't want to get her hopes up that she'd be matched with Peeta.
As the class began, Katniss paid attention to their teacher, an insipid little man who thought he knew it all. He didn't treat his female students well, often waxing poetically about the classical beauty of the Greek male form.
As she sat there a note dropped onto her desk. She quickly covered it with her hand, knowing she had to wait until the teacher turned back toward the board to be able to read the note. Their teacher would not cooperate and Katniss wanted to march up to the man and turn him around just so that she could read the note.
The moment the teacher turned his back, Katniss opened the note. Peeta's familiar bold scratchy handwriting greeted her. "MEET ME AT THE EDGE OF THE MEADOW AT MIDNIGHT."
Katniss hid her grin at the note. She and Peeta often met at midnight. It began as a custom when she could not sleep during the illness. She would wait for him when he made his nightly delivery to her family home and they would stand or sit apart talking. After the illness, whenever one of them couldn't sleep they always gravitated toward the other.
As the years passed, her attraction grew. Katniss wanted to be closer to him. She often wondered what it would be like to kiss him. She could feel heat creeping into her cheeks. Katniss looked down and tried to cool herself. School wasn't a place for her to play out her secret fantasies about Peeta.
She risked a glance behind her to spy on him. There was no chance for them to be together though. Her parent's match was a fluke. Seam and Merchant were hardly ever matched. Turning back, her heart ached. There was a time when she foolishly thought she didn't want to marry, but as she grew she knew that was impossible. The only way she would find herself alone was if by chance her mate died. With that fatal thought, Katniss straightened her shoulders, looked forward, and bided her time. There were only a few hours left until the end of school.
When school was done, Katniss met Prim waiting for her outside. "Hey, how was your day, Katniss?"
Katniss shrugged. She caught Peeta's eye as she left. He gave her a subtle nod. Katniss was going to acknowledge him with a nod of her own as they passed by him. Her plans were thwarted when Madge joined them and said, "Leevy was bugging Delly and your sister stood up to her."
Prim smiled, her pale blue eyes sparkling. "I bet Leevy caught on that Delly likes Gale."
"Primrose," Katniss said, trying to get her sister to hush. They walked out of the school's fence and were walking toward the split in the road. One road led to the Seam and the other led to the Merchant side.
"It's as plain as the nose on my face that Delly is sweet on Gale." Prim wiggled her eyebrows, before saying, "I bet that caused Leevy to see red."
"She was fit to be tied when Katniss reminded Leevy that the only way she would get her hands on Gale is if she matched his mark," Madge laughed.
Prim smiled and her nose turned red. It was a sign she knew something and was hiding it. Katniss knew whatever gossip her sister knew was better left unsaid.
"Primrose Everdeen, you know something, don't you?" Madge asked.
"Madge," Katniss sighed. "Prim, you shouldn't say anything. You know gossiping is just as bad as lying."
"But this is not a lie." Prim straightened her shoulders.
"You see, it's not a lie," Madge said, her eyes twinkling.
"You are the worst," Katniss muttered.
"Yes, but you love me just as I am."
Katniss couldn't argue with Madge.
"Well, since the Reaping is only a few days away," Prim said in a hushed voice. She looked around. "It turns out that Delly's crush is not one-sided."
"What?" Madge asked.
"I am not going to repeat myself," Prim said but her eyes were rife with mischief. Her lips were turned into a smirk. Her nose was redder than a tomato.
"That can't be true," Madge said laughing.
Prim didn't laugh, only gave Madge a superior look.
"Wait you're not joking?" Madge glanced at Katniss. "Do you know if it's true?"
"Gale's never said anything to me," Katniss confessed.
"Prim, how do you know this?"
"I can't reveal my sources, that would be snitching."
Madge stood in disbelief. "What else do you know?"
"Prim," Katniss warned.
"Oh Katniss, you're no fun." Prim groused.
Madge gave them a bittersweet smile, her eyes became teary.
"What's wrong?" Prim asked.
"Nothing," Madge swallowed. "I." She shook her head.
Prim took Madge's hand and squeezed it.
"I'm going to miss this," Madge whispered. "Seeing you two banter," Madge said wiping her eyes. "The odds are never in favor with girls like me. It's going to be a guy," she grimaced. "And he's going to be like I don't want you mixing with those Seam people."
"You never know you can have a match like Rooba," Prim said.
Madge sniffed then straightened her shoulders. "The Great Reaping isn't always..." Madge trailed off. The Capitol took The Great Reaping seriously. Everyone needed to be careful of the way they expressed themselves when it came to the mark and soulmates. People were snitches and there could be repercussions. Madge's Aunt Maysilee was killed because of her vocal feelings on the mate bond.
The conversation hung in the air as they came to where the road split one side leading to the Seam the other to the Merchant side.
"I guess this means goodbye," Madge said as she looked at the fork in the path.
Katniss knew what Madge was dreading. On Saturday, July 4th they would have to wear their best clothing and present themselves in front of the Justice building for the Great Reaping. At midday, they would know who their lifemate would be. For some, like Rhooba it worked out, she loved her lifemate and was comfortable with her partner. But others, like Peeta's father, were unlucky. Katniss knew Madge wanted a situation like Rooba's, but the odds, oh the odds, were never in anyone's favor.
Not only would Madge have to marry someone she wasn't attracted to but there was a chance she would never get to see her friend again. Katniss was pretty sure she would be matched with one of the Seam boys. Once that happened they would never see each other again.
"It's okay Madge, we have two more days left," Primrose took Madge's hand and squeezed.
"I'll see you both tomorrow," Madge said quietly before leaving.
Katniss watched her friend leave. The Reaping could be joyous or it could be disastrous and everything was left to fate. It was the one thing the Capitol could not control. Not a soul could determine who was your match. It was written in the stars.
"Come on, let's go home." Katniss nodded to her sister.
"When I was little I thought it was wonderful," Prim said, "but now as I get older I see the unfairness of it all. No matter what your heart feels you're destined to be with the person who shares your symbol. You can't be with the person your heart yearns for. I can't imagine loving someone and yet never being able to have the desire to touch them. Even though, father died, mother was lucky. She not only was attracted to father, but she also loved him."
Katniss kept quiet. She understood what Primrose was saying. There was a deep bond between her and Peeta. She couldn't imagine not seeing him ever again. After dinner, she counted the movements of the second hand. It seemed like an eternity passed between the clicks of each second. When midnight finally came she didn't bother dressing. In her nightgown, Katniss slipped her boots on and took a sweater with her.
Her thoughts whirled around Prim's words. On Saturday she would never again feel attracted to Peeta Mellark. Never again would she fantasize what his lips would feel like against hers, or what it would be like to hold hands, warm flesh pressed against warm flesh. Her body would only feel that physical attraction to the person who had the same symbol as hers.
Katniss took a lantern with her but did not light it until she was past the homes of the Seam. The night air was warm and a breeze kissed her cheeks as she made her way to the meadow with the lantern.
She saw Peeta standing with a small bright lantern in his hand. She ran in the tall grass toward him. When he spotted her approaching, he also ran toward her. They met in the middle, bodies colliding like clouds in the heavens.
"I'm glad you made it," Peeta said, pulling away from her.
"Me too," Katniss whispered looking up at him.
"Katniss, I wanted to ask you, if perhaps you…" he stopped speaking and then he let go of her. "I shouldn't say anything." He turned around. "I should go."
"Wait!," Katniss pleaded, pulling him back. Madge's words ran circles in her mind, but she didn't dare utter them. She needed proof, she needed to hear the words spoken from his lips. "Say it," Katniss searched his face.
He looked into her eyes.
"Ask me," she demanded. If he could hear her heart he would know it beat erratically from the thought of him declaring that he bore some sentiment toward her.
"I love you, Katniss. Do you think, perhaps in some small way, you might feel the same way about me?"
"Yes," Katniss whispered and launched herself at Peeta, her lips crashing against his. Her heart, mind, and soul were poured into the kiss. She expressed all of the hidden feelings she had for him.
He placed his hands on either side of her face and kissed her back. Peeta suckled her bottom lip before swiping the seam of her lips with his tongue.
She moaned. Desire poured through her veins. Katniss parted her lips and daringly met his tongue with her own. And she heard him groan. Her knees gave out and Peeta slid one arm around her waist.
Peeta pulled away, but only to trail kisses on her chin and neck. "Katniss," he whispered in her ear.
They sank down to the grass, kneeling before the other, their foreheads pressed, breaths mingling. The moon beamed upon them as if shining a spotlight on their tragic love story. Katniss understood what 'star-crossed lovers' meant.
"We need to stop," he whispered.
Katniss nodded.
"I hate this," Peeta whispered. "I hate that in two days we won't be able to ever kiss again, won't ever be able to be around each other."
Katniss decided right then and there that she was going to cheat the system. "I want to be with you, Peeta. I want to have a Toasting with you." A Toasting was an old custom that wasn't done anymore. There was a time that a Toasting was a sign of a real marriage in District Twelve.
"But?"
"Listen, on Saturday we'll have to show up to the Great Reaping and pledge our lives to the person who matches our symbol. But before that happens, I want to be with you. I want to have something that is mine. I choose you, Peeta. No matter what the thing on my wrist will say, I choose you."
Peeta nodded. "Tomorrow then, we'll meet here at midnight. I'll bring the bread."
"Wear sturdy shoes. There's a cabin in the woods that my dad once showed me."
"Okay."
Katniss leaned into him and kissed him once more. Thursday night couldn't come quick enough. The next day passed in a haze. Katniss counted the minutes until she could be with Peeta. She was going to pledge herself to him, and she did not care about her future mate. She would be spoiled goods going into his bed. Even if she was attracted to this person, she would always carry with her the one night where she was cherished, not because of what an ancient symbol on her hand revealed, but because she had the liberty to choose. When school let out Katniss told Prim she was going hunting, but she went to the cottage and prepared for the evening.
She caught a few birds to bring back home to cover the true intent of her visit to the woods.
When the hour came, she dressed in one of the nightgowns her mother gave her as part of her trousseau. It was nearly transparent with a pretty green ribbon at the center. She slipped a simple dress over it. She quietly made her way out, as before, not turning on her lantern until she was well past the houses of the Seam. She rushed to the meadow and there she saw Peeta waiting for her.
Grabbing his hand she led him to the fence and once there she helped him cross into the forest. Gathering her weapons they stole into the night, careful not to cross the beasts that hunted at night. Katniss led Peeta to the small stone cottage. She opened the door and led him inside. The room was furnished with a cot with fresh linens. There was a bath with buckets of water on the side, and wood for the fireplace.
"I'll light the fire," Peeta said.
Katniss nodded and took the thick wood and slid it into the brackets on the door, effectively shutting them in, and protecting their midnight tryst.
After Peeta had lit the fire, he held out his hand to her. She walked to him and grasped his hand. Not moving toward him, simply memorizing the feel of her hand in his. The way his large hand made her smaller one feel protected. Tingles ran up and down her arm.
She moved closer to him.
"Ready?" he whispered.
"Yes."
Katniss's heart pounded as she watched him take the bread and split it. Peeta took the stick she brought in from the woods and slipped a portion of the bread on its tip before holding it over the fire. Hand in hand they toasted the bread. When it turned a golden brown. Peeta smiled and said, "I love you Katniss and no matter what happens on Saturday you'll always be in my heart."
Katniss nodded, the words got stuck in her throat and tears spilled from her eyes. Breaking a piece of the hot bread she cooled it with her breath and presented it to his lips whispering, "Flesh of my flesh, never to part."
Peeta bit the bread and then repeated the same terms to her and she chewed and at that moment she was bound to him. Their lips met and the fire that began yesterday roared to life. Peeta picked her up and sat on the cot with her on his lap. Their kisses made her body tremble. His hands were caressing her body through the dress, and she wanted his hands on her skin. Standing, she removed the dress and dropped it on the floor. She stood in her sheer nightgown with the green ribbon tied in a bow at her front.
Peeta's hands shook even as they rested on his knees. Katniss liked having this effect on him.
She slowly untied the bow and widened the neck of the nightgown so that it would fall from her shoulders. Peeta's eyes were wide and he gasped at the sight of her naked form.
"Take off your clothes," Katniss whispered.
Peeta tore off his clothing and Katniss laughed at his exuberance and desperation. They stood before each other naked. Katniss stared at his smooth pale skin. His chest was wide and he had muscular arms from lifting heavy sacks of flour. There was a small trail of blond hair that led from his belly button down. His member was long and thick, bulbous at the end. He was hard, not flaccid as she once saw a man in her mother's care. She reached out, but he moved.
"No, if you touch me it will be over."
Katniss nodded and focused her attention on his broad chest. She gasped when she felt the fine blond hairs scattered on his chest. He was warm and his nipples pebbled when she touched them.
"Katniss," he moaned.
"Kiss me, Peeta," Katniss said.
Peeta nodded right before he did. She sighed from the pleasure of having his mouth on hers. She felt electric when their bodies finally met. Katniss felt ravenous as her hands explored him. He was hard where she was soft. They tumbled onto the cot.
He kissed her and his hand wandered her body. Katniss welcomed it all. When he touched her between her legs, she ached for more. She wasn't sure, but her body knew and her legs pressed together to alleviate the throbbing.
"Katniss, you're beautiful," Peeta said as he looked at her body. He sat back on his knees, his eyes grazing what his hands had just touched. His fingers trailed a path up and down her inner leg. She felt that same ravenous electric fiery sensation traveling up to the center between her legs.
He placed a kiss right above her mound. "Peeta," she gasped at the kiss.
Peeta's fingers danced patterns in her sensitive inner thigh and her legs fell wide open, greedily wanting more, small cries escaped her lips. Encouraged by her soft moans, Peeta's fingers brushed that apex that begged for something and she jumped, startled by the pleasure that rolled through her. She grabbed his hand and slid it back to where she ached the most and she moaned loudly, "There, please."
His fingers gently slipped between her folds and she drove her hips toward his fingers. "I need…" she didn't know what she needed but she knew she wanted more.
His light touches were driving her mad.
"You're so wet," he whispered.
"Please Peeta, please…." she pulled him toward her.
Peeta settled on top of her, kissing her. When his member came into contact with her center, they both groaned from the pleasure of it.
"Katniss, I want to be inside of you?"
She was ready for him and she uttered, "Yes." She was too far gone to say anything else. She was writhing in a pleasurable sensation that was fiery, ravenous, and a hundred different words that she could not even think of.
As Peeta sunk into her, she gazed into his eyes; their worlds were colliding. She would forever have a piece of him from tonight, she was sure of it. She bared her neck to him as he seated himself inside of her. The pain was a quick flash and a tear fell from her eye.
"Did I hurt you?"
He did but she couldn't tell him. She shook her head no because the sensation of being one with him was winning over the pain she had felt. "Kiss me."
Peeta kissed her tenderly until she only felt pleasure again. He moved slowly, tentatively flexing his hips. She could feel the embers of that fire being stoked again. As he moved, the embers burst into an out-of-control fire. He moved faster and she met him thrust for thrust until she was calling out his name. Her nails dug into his back until suddenly she exploded into a thousand pieces as she came.
In the distance, she could hear Peeta exclaim her name, and she could feel him filling her, until, with blissful exhaustion, she collapsed into a pool of nothingness.
When she came to, she was laying by Peeta's side. Katniss stood and heated the water to clean herself. Peeta woke up and came to help her.
"I wish we could meet tomorrow."
Katniss shook her head. There wouldn't be time. She turned to him and buried her face in his chest. "You will always be mine."
Peeta held her.
When they went back to the district and each went their separate way, Katniss knew this would be the last time she would see him. She watched him walk away before she sunk to the ground in the meadow and cried bitterly.
Friday her eyes were bloodshot.
"Katniss, you look like death warmed you over," Delly said.
"It's our last day," Madge said.
Delly glanced at Gale and she became teary-eyed. "After the reaping, I will never see him again."
Katniss knew what Delly felt as her gaze collided with Peeta's.
"At least you'll see Madge," Katniss said, tearing her gaze away.
Delly nodded, but her heartbreak was obvious.
That night Prim brushed her hair. "I wish I were as brave as you."
"I'm not brave, Prim."
"You are," Prim said quietly. "I know you were with Peeta."
Katniss's eyes flew to her sister's. She hoped Prim hadn't followed them last night.
"I followed you on Wednesday night. I saw you kiss him. I think it's brave to take something for yourself."
"Prim," Katniss said. She was relieved, but still, her sister seeing her and Peeta kiss the night before last was dangerous. "You can never tell anyone."
"I know."
Katniss stilled and closed her eyes. It was one thing to dupe her mate into thinking she was pure on her wedding night; it was another to have rumors spread.
"I promise never to breathe a word of it," Prim said.
"Come on, there are like a dozen baths and rituals tonight."
Prim chuckled. "You must hate this."
"Like you won't believe."
The next day her mother laid out a white dress with beautiful puff sleeves and flounces. "It was my wedding dress."
Katniss nodded.
"I took it in; you're skinnier than I was, but I think you will look lovely in it," her mother said.
"What about Primrose?"
"I have your father's mother's dress saved for her."
Katniss touched the dress. "Were you nervous?"
"Yes, and when I was paired with your father I was so happy."
"Why?"
"Because your father was a gentle, kind man. He also had a beautiful voice. You inherited his voice."
"I haven't sung in a long time," Katniss whispered.
"Maybe you will tonight."
Katniss doubted it, as she dressed. In her mind, she replayed over and over how it felt to be with Peeta. How his kisses lit up the profound dark corners of her soul with warmth and light. This thought carried her to the moment where she stood in front of the Justice building silently watching that clock hand move. She clutched the elixir not wanting to drink it, but she'd seen how others were treated if they didn't. Peacekeepers were watching over the crowd making sure they obeyed.
She closed her eyes and a tear slipped down her cheek as the clock struck twelve. "Peeta," she whispered, as she drank the bitter brew. She held out her wrist, but refused to open her eyes. She could hear jubilant cries all around her.
Next to her, she heard Madge laugh and another feminine voice laugh too. Katniss was then jostled as she heard Delly squeal, "I got you…" she cried. And Katniss heard Gale's voice, "I hoped it was you. My beautiful Delly."
She also heard when Leevy said, "No, he was supposed to be mine!" Followed by Roy's deep gravelly voice, "Leevy come here." This small incident reminded Katniss that the Great Reaping wasn't always fair.
Her heartbeat wildly and her nose suddenly picked up a scent. It was something familiar and her body wanted it. She craved to become one with her partner - the owner of this scent. She turned toward the scent, and her eyes slowly opened. She looked down at her wrist and the splotches turned into the shape of a bird. Looking up, the sun was in her eyes and she turned her face until a body blocked the sun. Her lips trembled as the face took on a form. A tear fell, followed by yet another.
Katniss swallowed. She wanted to run. Her hands trembled as did her body.
Not Peeta.
"You sure are pretty," Thom said.
Katniss turned away from him. She would not do what her body wanted.
"I always thought you were."
Katniss looked over his shoulder at Peeta and she collapsed. Thom clutched her by her arms before she hit the ground, but she pulled away.
"Are you okay," Thom whispered.
"I will never love you," Katniss fiercely whispered. "I will never be yours."
Thom looked over his shoulder at Peeta. "I know, I'm not your partner." He showed her his wrist. His symbol was an outstretched hand.
Katniss laughed. "Thank you."
Katniss's shoulders trembled as she recognized the scent of cinnamon and dill; a scent that was uniquely Peeta's. Her heart slammed into her chest.
"PEETA!" She yelled and ran toward him.
Peeta grasped her in his arms and when their lips met the desire she felt for Peeta came flaring back to life and the bird mark she had on her wrist burned as they bonded. When she looked down it changed from purple to red to orange. She glanced at Peeta's wrists and his symbol was the same as hers.
The girl who stood by Peeta glanced down at her wrist and then looked at Thom and smiled. "Do you have this," she held her wrist up.
Thom nodded. The girl leaped into Thom's arms.
Peeta laughed and then swung Katniss around.
"I love you," she whispered over and over again right before he kissed her lips. Their love was pure and for the rest of their lives, they knew that soulmates began not with the Great Reaping but before over a lifetime of talking and sharing.
The End.