Caution: this story could be triggering to victims of abuse. It deals with a DDlg situation, and occasionally details an abusive childhood. Read at your discretion.

That being said, I'm happy to announce my latest story, I hope you read through til the end of this (very long, I know) chapter and into chapter 2. It'll be very soft and sweet and very dark and dirty. Enjoy!

Katniss went to meet him upstairs in the dark room above. Because the day was young, the bar was mostly empty and the whole room was fairly quiet, only the occasional clink of glasses as a waitress cleared a vacated table. The hostess led her to a small booth in the corner, where her date was waiting. The brown leather was worn and a deep tear frowned in the middle of the seat. She slid into the booth across from him, and he smiled warmly at her. Her heart fluttered as she faced her old friend.

"Katniss Everdeen."

"Peeta Mellark." She smiled back, willing the butterflies in her stomach away. It had been several years since they'd last seen each other, and while he felt familiar, he also felt like a total stranger.

"It's good to see you again, thanks for meeting me." He began, sliding a menu across the table to her.

"Have you ordered?"

"No, I just got here."

The teenager on the street outside sang one of her favorite songs in his young, soulful voice. Katniss glanced over the menu, and Peeta spoke up.

"What have you been up to since high school?"

"I've uh... I've been freelance writing. Magazines, kids books, blog... What about you?"

"Work, college, then more work. I have a pastry shop here in town." He explained. Katniss shook her head, smiling.

"You were always good at that sort of thing."

"Well, I did it often enough." Peeta laughed as the waitress came by to take their orders.

Katniss found herself enjoying his easy company, and started to finally relax. Peeta started talking again.

"You know, when I met you, it never once crossed my mind that you had all those words bottled up inside you, not until I witnessed you in action. I could have sworn you cheated on that essay had I not seen you write it myself. I'm glad you've been able to do what you love."

"I may not speak much, but I can write up a storm." Katniss took a sip of the water glass the waitress had placed in front of her.

"So did you ever-"

"How are you-" Both started talking at the same time, and Peeta laughed.

"Go ahead," he said, smiling.

"How are you liking work as a baker? Have clients driven you to madness yet?"

"Very nearly, I've had plenty of difficult ones, of course. But it's interesting work, all in all. I enjoy it."

"That's good. What were you going to say?" Katniss asks him.

"I'm assuming it ended up not working out with Gale?" Peeta asked, and she laughed bitterly.

"No, that was over a long time ago. We fought a lot and eventually parted ways still pissed at each other."

"I'm sorry, that sucks."

"In a way, yeah. But it never would've worked." Katniss shrugged. She took her phone out and opened a new contact. "I know I can message you over Facebook, but uh... could I get your number?"

"If I give it to you, does that mean you'll call me?" He confirms, his fingers hesitating over the numbers. Katniss nodded eagerly.

"I promise. I'll call you tonight if that makes you happy."

"That would make me happy." He saves his number and sends himself a text. Katniss scrunched up her nose when she saw what he wrote.

"Miss you already?" She reads out loud. He grins back.

"Don't you?"

"You haven't left yet!"

He laughs and takes a drink of his iced tea. "You're right." She sighed. "I do miss you, and even though you're right here with me now, I feel like I'm with a stranger. You look so different."

"Honestly, I feel so different. I think I've finally grown out of the shy and awkward phase I spent high school in." He shrugged. They had both been shy and awkward, which is how they met in the first place. Katniss could clearly see the years on his face, both laughter and stress.

"I think I might still be in that phase, sadly." She said, half serious. "But at least now I know how to communicate, so that's something."

Peeta nodded in agreement. Their food arrived and they made small talk while they ate. Peeta paid the bill, asking Katniss if she would join him on a walk downtown. She smiled and said yes.

The air was crisp and biting, as Octobers in Boston often are. Katniss stepped gingerly over a page of newspaper that blew by. Peeta took her hand and looped it through his arm, so she cuddled up next to him as they walked. She'd always been very comfortable around Peeta; something about him just gives off an air of warmth and safety. During her tumultuous childhood, she often found herself staying close by the golden boy. Maybe the sunlight radiating off him would penetrate her soul and bring her joy as well.

"So... do you really wanna do this?" Peeta asked, gesturing between the two of them. Katniss looked at his face.

"You mean... go out? Date?"

"Yeah, I know it can be tough to date as adults with jobs, but I want to give it a shot. I've always wanted to." He admits. Katniss smiled.

"I know. I do too."

They stopped walking long enough for Peeta to pick up a coffee cup blowing down the street and dropping it into a nearby garbage can.

"I should give you fair warning, though. Before you get too attached." Katniss began, and Peeta looked at her curiously.

"What, you're actually a vampire? You pour your milk before you cereal?" He gasped dramatically. "You have a penis?" Katniss blushed.

"No, none of that. I mean… I'm sure you're aware that I had a rocky childhood…"

"Yeah I know." Peeta's voice softened, and he caressed her arm gently. "What does that mean for you now?"

"Please don't judge me, okay? You can walk away if it weirds you out, I don't blame you." She warned. Peeta frowned and kept listening. "I have a little bit of a daddy kink." She admitted in a whisper. Peeta smiled.

"That's not that uncommon, Katniss. It doesn't weird me out at all."

Katniss shook her head.

"No, not like I'm into older guys and I like my hair pulled – although I do, but like… I want someone who's gonna take care of me when I… feel like a little kid…" She trailed off, not knowing how to explain it.

"Ohhh, you're a little?" He asked, a small smile on his lips.

"Don't laugh at me, it's not my fault I'm screwed up." Katniss almost pouted, and Peeta couldn't help the chuckle that escaped him. She glared at him.

"No no no, I'm not laughing at you. I think you're adorable. I've always wanted to take care of you, Katniss, and if you want me to, I'd love to be your caregiver, whatever that means for you." He told her earnestly, and a flood of relief rushed through Katniss.

"Really? You don't mind?"

"Of course not. I've cared a lot about you for a long time now." He sat them down on a bench, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her close to him. She tucked herself against him with a big smile on her face, and Peeta couldn't help but smile back at her.

"Thank you, Peeta." She mumbled against his shoulder, and he rested his cheek on her head, thinking.

"So like... how does that play out? Have you done this before?" He asked, hoping it wasn't a bad time to ask. But really, their relationship did need some defining. Katniss sat up a little bit, resting her hand on his thigh, and he couldn't say he didn't like it.

"I had a very kinky relationship a few years back, so I know what I like in bed, but I haven't had a caregiver before. I don't really know what I need as far as that goes."

"Okay, we can play it by ear, figure it out as we go along. Do you like specific pet names?" He asked, and Katniss nodded.

"Baby or babygirl are my favorite, but I like most other cute nicknames. Is it okay if I call you Daddy?"

"Absolutely, you can call me whatever you want. Is there anything you really don't like? Not just in bed, but like, as far as taking care of you goes."

"I don't like being punished. Well, I do. But like, don't yell at me, hit me or call me names. I don't like that." She explained, and Peeta nodded, having a hard time picturing exactly what things would be like.

"Okay, so what do you like for caregiving?"

"Mostly affection and affirmation. I get really sad really quickly."

"Alright, and you wanna just… jump into it?" Peeta asked cautiously. Most of the time, relationships are built gradually, but they were in an odd position, as they'd known each other for years but were never romantically involved.

"If that's okay with you?" Katniss responded, looking up at him with wide grey eyes. Peeta smiled at her, pulling her close against him in a hug.

"That's perfect, baby." He tried, smiling when she sighed in contentment and snuggled closer to him. "Can I take you home?" He asked, not really sure how this works in public. She bobbed her head, taking his hand and standing up.

They took a cab back to her apartment, and Peeta got depressed just stepping inside. While she'd done a good job bringing plants and lights in, the space just felt cramped and claustrophobic. She led him over to her couch, and he started to take off his coat, while she stepped over to the kitchen.

"Wine?" She asked, her voice back to how it was in the restaurant when they first met.

"Yes please. Just half a glass."

She poured for both of them, and joined him on the small couch.

"So tell me more about yourself, Katniss." He asked, and again wondered whether or not to use a nickname for her while she acted her age.

"Well…" She answered, swirling her glass of wine. "I am severely emotionally unstable." She finished with a half smile. Peeta smiled back at her.

"That's okay. Like you said, it's not your fault you're screwed up. Go on, tell me everything?"

Katniss took a long drink of her wine to calm her nerves, and started talking again.

"I am a writer, I have several projects I'm working on now that I can show you later if you're interested. I don't know any of my neighbors, and I don't have pets. I regress into… a little… sometimes multiple times a day, sometimes only once a week depending on how emotional I am. I have a lot of nightmares, so I don't sleep very much. I have been single for over a year now, and nothing in a long time has made me happier than the day I saw your face on Facebook." She admitted, and Peeta blushed, looking down at his glass.

"My heart stopped when I saw your friend request." He told her, taking a sip himself.

"I debated whether or not to send it for like three days, and I got drunk one night and just did it. I'm glad I did."

"Tell me about your last relationship?" Peeta asked, and Katniss blew out a long breath.

"It was awful. Well, most of it was. He was a hardass that didn't have a lot of emotion. I'd never been more depressed. He was definitely hot, though. Sorry, I shouldn't say that to you." She covered her mouth with her hand, and Peeta laughed.

"It's okay, I don't mind. Keep talking."

"Uh… Well, the only reason I was with him for so long was because the… well, the sex was a good release for me. Like it exhausted me to the point that I didn't dream."

"Wow, that's pretty impressive. Do you want to tell me what you like?" Peeta tread carefully, not wanting to seem too forward, but genuinely curious about what she meant by 'very kinky relationship.'

"Okay… You're not gonna think I'm a freak, right?" She bit her lip, and Peeta smiled.

"I promise to keep an open mind, don't worry." He vowed, and she drank the rest of her wine before speaking again.

"I like it really rough. Like you've never seen it like this – I – I wanna be marked up afterwards. I want pretty little bruises from where you hold onto me, hickeys that'll last for days and bite marks down my neck, chest, thighs, back, and ass. Give me bruises on my ass from spanking me. Draw blood with your teeth and nails if you can. I like physical proof that I belong to you, reminders of the way you pound into me, claim me and dominate me." Katniss raised her eyebrows as she finished, out of breath and clearly a little bothered. Peeta blinked at her, shifting in his seat to relieve some of the pressure in his pants.

"Damn." He whispered, a little in awe. "You're sure?"

Katniss nodded seriously.

"Very."

There's the first chapter, what do you think? Do you like their new dynamic? Let me know with a review! You don't need an account to leave one:) I don't upload on a schedule, so follow the story (and/or me) to get an email when I post the next chapter! Also, check out my recent one-shot for more naughty fun, or the other stories on my page for more tame works. Thanks for reading!