Companion
AN:
This is my first attempt at writing an AU fanfic for the Hunger Games. It's a story of friendship, romance, and building your own family via unconventional means. The idea of adoption has always been dear to me. I hope many will consider adoption in the future.
The story is set in a post-war Panem, but the timeline is different from the original book. Peeta is from the Capitol, and Katniss is the sole victor in her games. Original characters are introduced and are inspired by the original book series. Please enjoy!
Words in bold are from the original Hunger Games book series.
Special thank you to my dear friend, GinnyGinervaWeasley, for betaing my story. You keep me motivated and excited to write. I really appreciate all your help.
P.S. I love the Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins owns everything!
CHAPTER 1
Working all the time is hard. These are words Katniss never thought would escape her lips. She loves her job, loves her work, loves her vocation, but lately, things have been so difficult. Not that work is any different, but life is just lonely, she suddenly realizes.
She's thirty-three now, surrounded by children constantly, but none of them are her own. There are many adults, but none are with her. Well, they are with her, but no one is really with her.
The war ended seven years ago, and war-torn Panem is still healing. Bombs have been dropped from both sides, and the destruction is plenty. But above all the physical destruction are the many children who have been orphaned. This is where Katniss fits in.
After being the Mockingjay of the rebellion, Katniss has devoted her life to providing and caring for orphaned children from the districts. She hunts to help provide food and teaches the children woodwork and knitting. Highly subdued skills compared to her history. The children don't need to learn those kinds of survival skills now. Panem is free. The children need to work with their hands to find healing and regain their footing through a constant and willful process.
All of these, she was doing for Primrose.
Dead at nineteen. Prim, her sweet, gentle sister. She was an unnecessary casualty of the war. A senseless loss that she could never ever fathom, but has heartbreakingly learned to accept. Prim was too young, too gentle, too loving, and too precious to be part of any war. But she chose to fight, thrusting herself into action and growing up quickly. Like many others in Panem, her childhood was taken from her, but she took her life back by taking hold of her own destiny. Now, her family doesn't have her, and her death pained them so. But they must live on - for her. For Primrose.
"Katniss?" A young girl in pigtails asks.
"I'm sorry. Do you need some help with your knitting, Annie?" she gently asks and brings herself back to reality, away from the growing loneliness in her heart. She's been going inward more and more lately, dwelling in her pain.
"I'm almost done, but I need help on how to close it into a cap. Will you teach me again?"
"Sure. Here, let me show you." She assures her. She might as well be her mother because Annie has been in the orphanage since she was just a few months old. She's the daughter of a coal miner from the Seam, and her mother is a rebel fighter from District 4. They had both died fighting in the war. Katniss practically raised Annie, changing her diapers, feeding her, witnessing her developmental milestones, and putting her to bed every night. Annie thinks Katniss is her mother, but her friends tell her otherwise. In her young, innocent mind, she wishes for her to be that source of comfort and safety.
"There. You think you could do it now on your own, Annie?" She is more advanced than any of the other five-year-olds but occasionally asks for help. It's mostly to gain Katniss' attention.
"Yes, I think I got it now. Thank you … Ummm."
"What is it, Annie?"
"Ummm ... "
Katniss kneels down in front of her and asks again. She has a soft spot for her sea-green eyes.
"Are you my Momma?" she asks with her sweet voice. It was almost inaudible, but Katniss heard every word.
Katniss' heart breaks for her little Annie. She wishes she could say yes, but she knows better not to let it out. She might be a picture of stability around them, but nightmares plague her every night. She can't have any child witness her thrashing in the middle of the night or live through her bouts of depression. They are better off in the orphanage than living with her in Victor's Village.
"You have many mommies here, Annie. There's Delly, Christa, Lindy, and even Sae. Well, maybe Sae is more like a very old grandmother, but she loves you all the same." She gives Annie a soft, loving kiss on her round forehead and tucks away a stray wisp of her red hair. The gesture seems to please her for now, but Katniss knows that she will ask again.
Night times are the worst for Katniss. She could take pills, but they only make escaping the war in her sleep harder. She may fall quickly down in bed only to fight a longer, grimmer war in her sleep. She avoids the pills as much as she can and tires herself instead with working on the books or doing woodwork. There's a half-finished chair in her carpentry room, and that should be enough to tire her out for the night.
"You need to rest," Delly worriedly says as she helps Katniss fold blankets. She's a pillar of positivity even after all these years.
"You need a friend," Lindy harps when she brings in more laundry to fold. She's petite but has a sturdy build.
"I know a guy from Three. You interested?" Sae suggests, and everyone raises their eyebrows.
"She doesn't need a granddaddy, Sae," Lindy says, shaking her head and rolling her brown eyes. The old woman is such a character.
"How about a date with Patrick? You know she loves you," Christa inserts, bringing more bed sheets to fold.
"Christa, he's nine! We're talking lover material here, not childhood crushes," Delly retorts at her blonde haired friend. She's the organizing type among the group but not an expert on matters of the heart.
"Well, dears, I may be eighty but trust me, this guy from Three is perfect. He's the sweetest, most handsome cookie in the district."
"Okay, set me up first so I can screen him for Katniss. Then if he passes, you could go on a date," Delly says and nudges Katniss' knee.
"Don't you have a boyfriend, Delly?" Lindy reminds her all too enthusiastic best friend.
"Well, now that you ask. I think Thom is my fiancé!" she screams and flashes everyone the simple gold band she has been hiding from them all day.
They all fawn over her, asking all sorts of questions about the proposal. They asked about their wedding plans and if there was already a bun slowly baking in the oven. Katniss immediately offers to hunt a deer for their reception.
She didn't tell her friends, but Katniss cried herself to sleep that night. Longing and loneliness, taking over her completely. She has always been independent, and she prides herself on it. She has sustained herself and lived her life according to her own principles, but lately, the thought of being alone her entire life has been tugging a tight string in her chest. She doesn't quite understand it as the feelings just crept in and took root in her heart like a stubborn weed that you could not really kill. She has never felt so alone in her entire life. Her nightmares evolve into more horrendous pictures, and the lingering feelings are so amplified that sleep just wasn't possible on most nights.
Morning comes, and there is a knock on her door. Nobody knocks on her door, and instantly her bow and arrows are in her hand. It's an old habit from the war.
"Who is it?" she calls, trying to make her voice sure, but the hoarseness from crying and lack of sleep are far too apparent.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but Sae sent me. She said you needed some repairs done in your house? Something about your power box not working properly," the voice outside says with a kind tone.
Katniss opens the door and is met with a tall white man with golden curls cascading freely over his beautifully shaped head. He is looking up at a busted light bulb near the door, and when he looks down, his bright blue eyes meet her stormy gray ones.
"Hi," is all he says, but he curses himself inside for sounding like a teenager at the moment. He knows that she is the Mockingjay. He has seen her in all her propos. Even saw her on stage during her victory tour when he was just sixteen. He steps back when he notices her drawn bow and arrow.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Katniss starts and lowers her weapon. "Where are you from? How do you know Sae?"
"I'm from Three," he explains calmly. "I took the late-night train last night when Sae called me. Powerbox problems are serious things, so I came here as quickly as I could." What he doesn't say is that he's been in the train station since two in the morning, passing the time until the proper morning hours so he would not scare her. He had been slightly on edge from Sae's phone call yesterday.
"Oh. I've had this problem for years. I don't mind."
"It could start a fire as a worst-case scenario," he says, but he's not trying to scare her. He is really concerned for her well-being.
Katniss weighs her options. Let a stranger in her house or shoo him away. It would be easy to send him away, as he seems like the amiable type. She could also let him in and have the long-time problem fixed. She has her bow and arrows, and she could defend herself if needed. She's done it before, and her skills haven't waned - if anything, it actually improved. Extreme thoughts to be had for what seems to be an electrician. She studies him. He doesn't look dangerous, a simple bag hanging over his shoulders and a thin gold necklace on his neck. His shoulders are a little too tense, but why wouldn't they be? She just pointed her arrows at him, and he has every reason to fear for his life. The clincher to her decision is his eyes, incredibly kind, bright, and blue even in the pale morning light that seeps from the hallway.
"Let's get it fixed then," she says and glances at him again. His eyes give her no warning. He simply picks up his tool kit and follows her.
Katniss leads him to the basement where the power box is, and she hesitates when the lights won't light up. She flicks the switch several times, her fingers pressing more strongly than the last, but it doesn't work. It hasn't worked in months.
"Don't worry, I came prepared. Here, you could hold the flashlight," the repairman offers, somehow happy with himself that he already has a solution. Taking the flashlight, Katniss continues to lead the way.
"Wow, that's an old power box," he quickly says after spotting what he came for. "I'll have to see what's inside, but I'm almost 100% sure that you will need upgrading."
He tinkers with the box, confirming his initial suspicion. It's archaic and such a shame to be put in a victor's house. He makes some basic, and safer connections, scratching his forehead every now and then in disbelief over the forgotten power box. The light quickly goes back on when he flicks the main switch.
"You did it," Katniss says, very pleased, and turns off the flashlight. "That was fast and easy."
"Yeah," he agrees. It is fast because nothing else in the house will work except the lights and anything else in the kitchen. "It's temporary, though. You need an upgrade as soon as possible if you want to use other things aside from the lights."
"I could live with that."
"No victor should ever live with that," he says a little too firmly because he meant it. Katniss eyes him but doesn't say a thing.
"I didn't catch your name," she asks as they walk up the stairs to sit in the kitchen. "I'm sorry, I forgot to ask. I'm Katniss, by the way."
"Katniss Everdeen. Of course, I know who you are. Everyone does," he replies, too enthusiastic for her liking. "I'm Peeta. Peeta Mellark," he says, pulling back his energy after noticing Katniss' reaction.
"Well, thank you for coming today, Peeta. I'm sure you don't normally work on Sundays."
"It's no big deal. I'll do anything for Sae." He doesn't say that he respects her very much for what she did for Panem and that his little capacity to do repairs is all he can offer to pay his respects to the young war hero.
"What's next? You said I'll need an upgrade?"
"I'll need parts from my district. May I use your phone so I can place the order? It will make it faster if I order them today."
"It's by the living room." She shows him the phone and stands beside him, unsure of where she should be. Peeta is the first person in her house in years.
"I think I'll be all right now. You don't have to watch me," Peeta says politely. "You could go freshen up." Suddenly, the comment makes Katniss aware of her own presentation. Wrinkled shirt and pajamas, matted hair, puffy eyes with black half-moons, and mismatched socks. She looks terrible. She smells her breath and closes her mouth right away.
Noticing her reaction, Peeta gives her a sympathetic look. He didn't mean to offend her with his remark. Somehow the whole situation is catching him in the wrong way, and his words and tone are a jumbled mess inside his head.
"Okay, I'll be right back," Katniss says and turns towards the stairs. Peeta tries to say something but buries his face in his hands instead. They are both embarrassed of themselves.
After she showers, she feels much better. She pads down the stairs in comfortable clothes and is surprised to see Peeta sleeping on her living room couch. He's sitting up in one of the deep chairs hugging Katniss' large and one and only couch pillow. He's snoring lightly, so she lets him sleep. He must have been extremely tired.
She finds herself making breakfast for two.
"I'm so sorry," Peeta says softly, but it startles Katniss when he just appears in the kitchen. "I fell asleep after putting in the orders. I'll go on my way now." He quickly waves goodbye, tapping on the countertop in nervousness. He felt so embarrassed for passing out.
"Wait!" she calls. "I made breakfast. You should eat."
"But …" he says and shakes his head.
"I insist." She will not take no for an answer.
"Okay," he says, looking at the table. He knows it's impolite to refuse.
Breakfast is simple - pancakes, bacon, and eggs. Nothing too complicated but still very hearty. Eating at the dining table is weird, and it feels foreign to Katniss. She often eats standing up and in a rush. She never exerts enough effort to set up a table because she eats alone. Buttercup has his bowl on the floor, and most of the time, he ignores her during meals. Having breakfast while sitting down with another person is a rare occurrence. It's pleasant enough, she thought.
"Where did you say you were from again?"
"I'm from District 3, but I'm originally from the Capitol," Peeta answers. "I moved to Three after the war. I've lived there ever since."
"What do you do there? Do you have family in Three?" she says, trying not to sound too inquisitive. It has been a while since she has spoken with anyone outside the orphanage. Even then, most of her communication had been with people under eighteen years of age.
"I'm an engineer in Three. I'm with a team, working with doctors to develop better medical equipment for the districts. We repurpose gadgets and spare parts from the war and put them to good use in hospitals," he says casually enough. "About my family ... they were all lost in the war," he ends, shifting to a quiet tone.
"I'm sorry. I lost family too."
"We all did," he answers. "Do you think Sae will have time to see me?" Sae is also family to him.
"We could try at the orphanage after breakfast," Katniss replies. Somehow she wants to offer something, some comfort for Peeta's loss. The way he spoke about his family was all too familiar to Katniss. The hurt, the longing, the senselessness of it all. After seven years, she had somehow moved on after much help. Though her past still haunts her, she has learned to cope.
Peeta insists on washing the dishes, and Katniss doesn't argue. She watches him as he runs the soapy foam over the dishes scrubbing them with much care, so unlike her hurried way of doing it. He takes the pans from the stove and soaks them in the water as he rinses the plates. He has a system in washing, and his demeanor is calm, almost meditative. It piques her interest, and she observes him intently.
"You don't have hot water in the tap," Peeta says as if asking a question.
"It stopped working about two months ago," she replies like it's just a matter of fact and is not a big deal.
"Oh," he says, much weight on his one-word reply. How could Katniss just live this way?
"I don't mind. I grew up not having hot water from the faucet anyways. I just heat up a kettle."
"I could look into it if you want?" he offers willingly.
"You do plumbing too?" she says with slight amazement.
"Not really, but it might be connected with your power box. Your heater is electric, right?"
"I guess?"
"Okay, I'll check it."
"But it's fine, really."
"Okay, but I insist." She can't refuse.
The water heater is damaged. Peeta shakes his head, not believing how anyone could overlook so many house problems. Katniss' house is just waiting to stop functioning, burn down, or get flooded from the inside. He turns a valve and out sprays cold water, soaking his shirt in the process. He fixes it quickly, twisting the valve heavily and securing the leak with a special tape. It's a temporary fix again.
"Are you okay there, Peeta?"
"Yeah, just got a little wet, but I got it now."
He emerges from the basement, and Katniss stands up from the floor where she sat waiting.
"It needs replacing," he starts. "The pipes around the house hopefully don't need work, but your heater needs replacing. Katniss …"
"What is it?" His pause makes her uneasy.
"I'm just trying to be honest here, but your house needs so much work," he says softly but clear enough that she gets his concern. "I'll phone in the parts and install them when they come."
"Okay. I'll pay you." She's not being impolite but is offering a fair trade.
"It's okay. I don't mind."
"No. I have more money than I need."
"I know, but you don't have to. I insist." There he goes again with his "I insists." Katniss doesn't understand it, but somehow she also doesn't protest. She hates owing people, but there is something about the way Peeta said it that made it all right.
"I'll get you a towel. You're soaking wet!"
He laughs. "Thank you, that would be nice."
It's the first time she sees his smile, and she thinks he is beautiful and endearing. She gives him a thick, fluffy towel, and he goes back to the hallway to get a spare shirt from his bag. Katniss goes to her room to get her jacket. It's a little chilly outside for their walk to the orphanage.
Broad white shoulders with cinnamon-colored freckles meet her eyes, and a little stunned, she doubles back up the stairs to avoid him. Peeta had just removed his wet shirt and was scrounging around his bag for a fresh one. He is biting the edge of his orange and black backpack to hold it up while using two hands to find a spare shirt. The firm cords of his muscles are wide and exposed for her to see.
"We should dry your shirt in the fireplace," Katniss says after braving down the stairs a few moments later. Peeta jumps a little from her voice. He did not hear her coming down at all and was suddenly self-conscious. He wears his spare shirt quick enough, but not without Katniss noticing his scars. He has a clean scar line just above his right hip, seemingly from an operation. His lower back also has burn scars running up to his right shoulder blade. Half his back is like patchwork with a combination of scar and pale white skin. She wonders what could have possibly caused them to be there.
Thank you for reading! Please let me know what you think.