Peeta couldn't keep himself from audibly gasping, his sharp inhale the only sound in the room. Everything was white, sleek. Clinical.
But his eyes were not immediately focused on his surroundings, unlike the way he had to be alert during the Games. He is blind to the room and doctors.
Because all he can see is Katniss. Her olive skin and tousled hair. And he is in shock, horrified by the husk of a human being in front of him. She had always been thin, gaunt from years of malnutrition. But this was entirely different.
She was beyond looking hungry; she was starving. Bile rose in his throat as his eyes scanned what of her skin he could see. He could practically see her bones poking through. It is horrifying, and he is frozen in place. He is too afraid to move, afraid that she will shatter in front of him and that he will wake up screaming her name all alone in his room in 13. That this is a repeat of his endless nightmares.
By the time he snaps out of his trance, the doctors have left and her eyes are just beginning to open. He practically runs to her side. Gently, he spreads his arms longing for her embrace and to comfort her in his arms. He can't undo what Snow has done to her, but he is immediately desperate to take her pain away.
She blinks her eyes open, and he recoils a little. They are glossed over and red, and the bags underneath them make him want to be sick.
She had meant it when she said she couldn't sleep without him.
His arms lower a fraction and he gently reaches to help her sit up. He does it without thought, though his touch is light as a feather, afraid that she will fall apart. It was sickly ironic how her starving form was reminiscent of a bird. Give her some wings and she would be able to fly among the mockingjays.
Her blinking slows as her eyes echo her confusion. She trembles, unsure of her surroundings.
Peeta gently helps her sit up, but she still doesn't look at him. Instead she winces at the touch.
When she finally eyes him she tenses. She goes from confused to life-threateningly terrified.
"Peeta."
And then her hands are around his throat, her eyes still full of fear. But now her face is hardened with hatred and determination.
It reminds him of the Katniss he feared she would turn into in the first games. A monster, emotionless. A brutal killer.
Her hands begin to truly squeeze, and even though he should easily be able to push her off he doesn't. His hands reach for hers and next thing he knows she slams him onto the concrete. Glass shatters everywhere.
Panic begins to set in when he stares into her soul and sees no recognition. His vision begins to fade and he can't bring himself to defend himself, afraid that he'll break her.
And he would much rather die than hurt her.
The last thing he sees is Haymitch shove her off of him and sedate her.
As everything goes black, all he can think of is her. And the murderous look in her eyes.
This is not his Katniss.