Music and the Beast

Summary: Caught up in a ruse to stay away from her past, top talent manager, Katniss Hawthorne wasn't one for music or romance. But maybe, there might just be someone to bring the music back into her life. Implied K/C, K/G, but ultimately K/P.

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance

Chapter Length: 7544 words

Warnings: Plot thickening, convoluted metaphors and unusual fetishes?

Yay! An update. Hope you didn't miss me too much. Like always. I'd like to say thanks to all those who reviewed and liked this story and the other that I've written.

A big thanks to my anonymous reviewers whom I couldn't thank personally, Control Freak, Fu (sorry I couldn't send you a preview, I had no way of replying), GIFtoJPG, Cannoli, KinnaFatniss, and Chrysalis.

Congratulations also to those who answered the Reader Pop Quiz correctly in their reviews and got a chance to see an extended preview of this chapter. There are starting to be too many of you to keep track of, so I'll just rest assured that you know who you are. Haha. Scroll down to see the rest of the chapter you haven't already read (or read from the start to see some non-major revisions I've made).

This chapter addresses some minor plot holes and thickens the plot a bit. I've gone ahead and finished work on the studio so that by the next chapter, they're ready to roll. I hope you enjoy all the character interaction in this chapter, there's a lot of it.

Anyway, enjoy the read!

Recap:

"Rue?" Katniss dropped what she was doing and ran to the phone, holding the receiver gingerly in her hands before actually putting it up to her ear. "Rue, what is it? What's wrong?"

"Katniss! I'm so glad I caught you." Her voice sounded tired and frantic. "I tried calling your phone, but I couldn't reach it."

Katniss mentally slapped herself for forgetting to recharge it. She had been so busy, in between the press conference and songs and recruiting people for the band. "Oh god, I'm so sorry Rue, I didn't think. What happened? Why'd you need to reach me so bad?" Rue had been a more or less independent boarder at her flat. She'd held her own for weeks when Katniss had to go on business trips, so it was unusual for her to have to call after only a few days of her absence.

"The flat." Her voice came in sobs now. "They kicked me out. I've got nowhere to go Katniss."

Chapter 8: Fighting Our Battles

Katniss' eyes widened at what Rue had said. "What? How? When?"

"I don't know what happened, Kat." Rue scrambled for words to explain. "Woke up this morning to some loud knocking on the door, and next thing I know, some guys from your company are throwing me out of the apartment. They said I don't own it and that I was squatting illegally." The tone of her voice echoed her worry.

Katniss was speechless as her mind wrapped around who could've done this, and really there was only one who had the power to – Snow.

"I paid the rent, I swear." She continued. "But they brought out some papers and threatened to call the police, so I just grabbed a bag and left. I don't know what to do. I don't have anywhere to go Kat. I'm just so confused. And then I panicked when I couldn't reach your phone. Gale told me to try this number. I'm so happy Prim picked up." The girl's cries could be heard clearly through the phone.

'Gale was there?' Katniss thought to herself. 'Why didn't he stop them? How could he do such a thing?'

"Rue, calm down. It's gonna be alright." Katniss had to think. Why had Gale given Rue this number? Was he really working with Snow? It didn't make any sense. This was all too sudden. She wracked her brain at how Snow had any right to kick Rue out and then she realized that the flat hadn't been signed under her name. It had been signed under the company. Snow was exacting his revenge the only way he knew how. But before she could even begin to think about what else Snow had planned, she needed to help Rue. "Rue, do you remember Cinna?"

The hum of her voice over the phone told her she did.

"I'm gonna have him come pick you up at the coffee shop a few blocks down from the flat." Katniss bit her nails as she spoke. Peeta and the others had now gathered around her to find out for themselves what exactly was happening. "Don't talk to anybody and don't let anybody follow you. Cinna'll keep you safe until we find out what to do. Meanwhile, don't go to any bookings, you'll probably be forced to leave anyway, or worse."

"What do you mean? Why?" Rue's voice was puzzled.

Rue was Katniss' personal find – a talent that she had brought in as a result of her own scouting, not the companies. Rue was her responsibility and hers alone and now that Snow had no hold on Katniss, he was sure to take his anger at their little stint with the press out on anybody close to Katniss he could get his hands on, and Rue was exactly that. She wasn't even sure Cinna was safe from the repercussions. It had been sheer luck that he had cut ties with Snow before things got out of hand. She comforted herself with the fact that Snow probably knew nothing about what Cinna was doing now and hopefully this wouldn't all blow up in his face.

She tried to explain to Rue the simplest way she could. "Snow's not very happy with me right now, Rue. And by extension, you." Her voice was grave.

"I understand." Was all Rue could say. She was sure Katniss would explain in detail once she was surely safe, face to face.

"And Rue?" Katniss asked just before she hung up. "Did Gale tell you anything?" Katniss' voice was hopeful. She needed to shed some light on all the craziness that was happening, and what Gale had to do with it. Why was he working with Snow and snooping around town? Why had he even cared to give Rue her house number?

"I'm sorry Katniss." Rue spoke softly. "He just gave me a piece of paper with a number when Snow wasn't looking. He didn't even look at me."

"It's fine. Just keep safe okay? I'll get in touch with you soon. Wait for Cinna, and don't trust anybody else." Katniss lingered on the line before hanging up.

"What happened?" Peeta struggled to choke out the words, afraid of what he might hear.

Katniss just shook her head as she ran a hand through her hair. She felt like anything she touched would inevitably die, break apart, and fail.

It was just unbelievable. Just when she thought things were getting better and that there was even a chance of her getting out of this, her father's legacy strengthened and her debt to him finally paid, Snow knew just how to rain on the parade. He was such a child. Snow wasn't content at making her miserable. Now that she had found a way out of his clutches, he was intent on making life hell for her and those she held dear in any way that he could.

"I don't know if I'm just really unlucky, or if Snow just has it in for me." She wore a forced smile on her face, wondering if she'd ever be worthy enough to experience happiness, in just once in her life. Snow obviously didn't think so.

"Sweetheart-" Haymitch began.

Katniss cut him off before he could get the chance to try to console her with his words. It was most probably going to be another one of his horrid jokes anyway, and she was not about to let Haymitch of all people counsel her on the inner workings of Snow's mind. "Prim, do me a favor and call Cinna, will you? Ask him to pick Rue up at our usual place. You know the one." She said weakly, trying as best she could to maintain her composure. She thought that after all those years acting the part of a perfect professional, she'd have it down, but it was getting harder by the minute.

Prim nodded, willingly accepting her honorary role of secretary this time. She didn't have it in her to complain, and behind Katniss' cynic words, she knew there was some truth to Snow's grudge against her, and against the entire family even. But Katniss didn't know that. Prim wondered why Snow would go to such lengths. It didn't seem like any old rivalry between him and her father could have sparked such animosity and hatred, unwarranted. There was more to this than it seemed, but she'd have to wait it out to find out.

"Kat, you should get some rest." Jo wrapped an arm around Katniss' shoulder and ushered her to her room. "You look like shit."

Katniss' laughed at her bluntness. She was sure she did. She sure felt like it. Even with twelve hours straight of sleep the previous day, she had gone without a wink the night before and was running on coffee and sugar. She hadn't noticed until now. She was so excited and happy. She should've known it wouldn't last. She walked with the thoughts filling her head, ushering her psyche into the familiar darkness she had become so accustomed to.

"Keep an eye on 'er, will ya Jo?" Haymitch called out softly. "Make sure she doesn't do anything-" He paused. "-rash."

Katniss scoffed at his words. She would do no such thing. She had been cowardly once, but she wouldn't be anymore. Sure, she still hated herself and blamed herself for everything, but now she was motivated to actually do something about it. But in the back of her mind, she hoped and wished that it was purely the love of her dad that motivated her, and not her anger with Snow. She hated it – such pure intentions being contaminated with such toxic grudges. But that was life, and she had to deal with it and look past it. It was what her father would have done.

Katniss stopped, causing Johanna to stumble at the sudden obstacle in her gait.

"You know what?" Katniss spoke, mostly to herself, but loud enough for everybody to hear. "I don't even care anymore." She brushed Johanna's arm away from her frame as she spoke. "Snow's an ass. Always has been, apparently."

Katniss' sudden outburst stopped Prim short of her contacting Cinna, all eyes now on her.

"But damnit, I've been much too affected by his schemes for far too long." She stomped a foot the ground. Any other day, it would have been such a childish gesture to do, but it seemed appropriate right now. "All he's ever going to do is keep playing games with us, isn't he?" Her eyes were trained at Haymitch, who nodded at her, knowing full well how Snow was, even before Katniss was born. "Well I'm not playing anymore."

Johanna wore a smirk at her words. She was wrong when she had thought there hadn't been a trace of the old Katniss left. Here she was, stubborn, and rash and all too caught up in the excitement of things. But this was the part of Katniss she had liked, and even come to love. And she was glad she had kept it.

Wrapping her arms around Katniss, Johanna smiled a devious grin. "Snow just fucked with the wrong Everdeen."

Katniss relished the sudden feeling of empowerment. As she caught Prim dialing Cinna from her peripheral vision, she contemplated the rest of her endeavors now that she had made it a point within herself not to let Snow get the best of her. Rue would be taken care of, and everybody else Katniss held dear was well within her scope of protection. All that was left was to make sure nobody else got the brunt of Snow's grudge against her. Katniss bit back the thought of Gale and how he ended up at the opposite end of the spectrum. She'd have to get to the bottom of that as well. That aside, Snow no longer had anything on her, and she was determined to keep it that way by making sure she had nothing else to lose.

"Well your sudden epiphany is nice and all, sweetheart. And now that you've forfeited the sleep that we'd chosen to afford you, I'd like to inform you that I'm still waitin' on breakfast." Haymitch huffed at his wasted effort to actually sound concerned for the girl. The one time he actually shows any sympathy for her, he gets rebuffed and li'l Miss Everdeen finds a whole new way to spin this thing around herself. He laughed at himself bitterly, he had gotten used to it. Joe was exactly the same way.

"C-c-c-combo breaker." Johanna erupted in response to Haymitch's obvious disregard, letting go of her hold on Katniss. Katniss just glared at the two. And here she thought the two were genuinely in the moment with her. "What? I just had to do it. Don't tell me you weren't thinking it either." Johanna turned to Katniss, Prim and then Peeta, and when all of them returned her humor with raised brows, she returned to the kitchen, pouting. "C'mon 'ya old lug. I'll fix us up some grub. Toast's getting stale."

Haymitch just let out a gargled noise of protest, but any food was better than no food.

Despite Johanna and Haymitch's inability to read her epic change in mood, Katniss still smiled at her renewed fervor. It seemed like every other hour was a rollercoaster of emotions for her, and despite the unpredictability of it all, it had changed her for the better.

From the corner of her eye, she spotted Peeta smiling at her warmly. At least he had the sense to be happy for her. But as he raised his thumb up in a genuine congratulatory gesture with a toothy smile that could light up a city, a tug in her heart told her that maybe she did have something to lose after all. A blush crept to her cheeks at the sudden awareness of the thought she had just conjured in her mind and she shook it off immediately. 'What was that?' She thought as she suddenly became much too conscious of Peeta's presence. Katniss was deep in her thoughts, digging deep and trying to fathom where the hell that blush had crept its way from. The others had been warranted – those times he had been unexpectedly close and she would have reacted the same way with anybody. How the hell did a simple thumbs up have the best of her now?

He walked over to the spot where she stood, just behind the sofa. He leaned against the piece of furniture and crossed his arms. "I know a place where she can stay." He said out of the blue.

"Excuse me, what?" She hadn't heard a word that he said.

"Your friend – she seemed like she was in a real pinch. Rue, was it?" He had barely been able to piece things together from the broken conversation he just happened to overhear. "If Snow's after her, she's definitely not safe back in L.A. where she's within reach."

"And so what are you saying exactly?" Katniss frowned, not because she was angry that he was butting into her business, but rather because she was perplexed at why he would go so far as to butt into it in the first place. It puzzled her enough as it was that he had gone through all the effort to bring her here and now work on the project with her, but she had always thought that it was because of her father. His offering to help her out with Rue now had nothing to do with Joseph Everdeen, and yet here he was, willing to lend her a hand yet again. Katniss cringed a little inside. Was he really just that nice?

"I've got a place in town." He said as he scratched his head, not knowing if it was really a great idea to bring it up. "I don't think I've actually told you this, but I used to live here too." He laughed. It really was a far-fetched story, even to him. He thought that telling her this much was enough. He wouldn't go telling her the whole story just yet. "My parents live near the old donut shop. Well, technically, they own the old donut shop, but you get my drift. Rue can stay over, I'm sure they won't mind. That way you can keep an eye on her, and she'll be out of his reach."

It was a great idea actually, but before Katniss could even say so, she had to process all the details. First – that there was a donut shop in town. She wracked her brain trying to remember, but her memory failed her. It wasn't exactly like her family made a habit of going out to eat; it always drew too much attention, so that wasn't surprising. Second – that Peeta actually lived in town. Her town. This man always had a way of surprising her. She laughed at the irony of his being a total fanboy of her father and not even knowing he owned an estate in town. Before she could say anything, Peeta spoke up.

"Well sorry if a donut shop seems a little absurd, but I'm trying here." He looked disappointed at her reaction.

"Oh, no – I'm sorry." Katniss shook her hands in defense of herself. "I wasn't laughing because of that. In fact, it's a great idea. She can stay there once Cinna brings her over. I was just laughing because you've been a fan of my father your whole life and you didn't even know his family lived in town." She had to hold back laughter as she explained.

She was right. It was funny. Peeta didn't actually have time to register that he had essentially lived in the same town as his idol for the majority of his life. Joe Everdeen was notorious for keeping his home life on the down low, so he hadn't actually known until Haymitch had brought him here. It seemed almost ridiculous that he hadn't thought of it earlier. This was big and the sudden realization hit him. Now he knew how raging fangirls felt when they find out their favorite stars frequent the same shops they do. He wasn't going to go around squealing and jumping around like a kangaroo on steroids though. He had to play it cool. Instead, he ran his palm through his face to hide the insane grin he was now sporting.

"So now it hits you." Katniss couldn't help but smile along with him. His fanaticism was a little bit endearing. "Just don't go around stalking our house at night and trying to steal my father's underwear and you'll be fine."

He grinned at her, still giddy. "I'm wearing it right now, actually." He laughed.

"Eww! TMI! TMI!" Katniss turned away from him and made a beeline for the kitchen.

"You're welcome!" Peeta called out to her as he threw himself on the couch, tucking his hands behind his head and sighing. Prim got off the phone and just looked at him as if it was the weirdest sight she had witnessed.

"What was that all about?" She asked.

"Nothing, really."

Prim dismissed the man's odd behavior and made her way back to the kitchen where it seemed Johanna had made a mess of whatever it was she intended on cooking.

Peeta laid back on the couch alone. He'd actually be visiting home soon. It was an odd feeling not coming home as a task for obligatory holidays. It wasn't like he didn't enjoy his family's company, but his mother had always made it a point to make him feel very uncomfortable when he visited, asking how his job was going and how much money it brought in. It took all his effort not to retort and remind her that they owned a donut shop for crying out loud. She didn't have much room to be judgmental about whatever life endeavors he decided to partake in. But his father was more accepting, and he decided, just for that, that he would actually call home today, if only to give them a heads up on their impending guest.

"Help me out with this speaker, will 'ya Madge?" Peeta was now struggling to haul a very hefty looking block of equipment into the room that was to be their new studio.

Madge rolled up her sleeves and gave the man a hand with the burden. When she lifted some of the weight off his frame, he instantly eased out a sigh. He had to admit, Prim was right. Madge was pretty buff. They set the piece of equipment into its designated place and tried to make sense of the wires and where they went before George ran over and swatted their hands away. "Damnit kids, just leave the job to the big boys." Madge just rolled her eyes and walked out of the room.

"Call me when the kid wants to share his new toys." She called out and George just waved her off as she left.

The room smelled yet of fresh paint and sawdust, but Madge's father had insisted on starting early. Upon his arrival, Madge's father, George Undersee seemed more than ready to help when he saw the equipment lining the hallways of the Everdeen household. Katniss and the rest of the people from her generation just sat in awe as he worked his magic on all the dead-looking equipment, their lights coming to life at his touch and suddenly making them look vintage and usable instead of just outdated and old. He found each a place in the new studio. Haymitch took a liking to the man immediately, but he wasn't one for heavy lifting when given the choice and the 'kids' in the house ended up with the dirty work.

Peeta laughed at the man's possessiveness for his work before turning to the door where a pair of legs was now just visible from behind a large pile of boxes. "A little help here." A voice that sounded to be Katniss' called out.

Peeta ran over and took the weight off her shoulders. "Again with the boxes." He teased, remembering their encounter at the garage. He wondered why Katniss still insisted with her small frame.

She pouted. "I just wanted to help." After seeing to it that Peeta sorted out the contents of what she was carrying properly, she walked over to George and observed him intently as he worked. The studio was really coming into shape. The walls now a rich burgundy red and now fully sound-proof thanks to the generosity of the man who now sat humbly working on setting up the equipment which contributed to the atmosphere of the studio, not to mention its functionality. George had been a bit miffed after having found out that Cinna was bringing some of his newer digital equipment to add up to the mix, but wasn't entirely against the idea and now he was setting things up to make installing the new equipment easier for them all. The man was a genius in his own way. "So, how's it going down there?" Katniss asked, trying to see if she could get the man to actually include them in his ministrations.

"Pretty good actually." He laughed. "I'm still a little bit confused as to why there's a bathroom in this room though. Had to wrap my mind around how to get all this wiring laid out with the obvious fire hazard in the way."

The man's words had Peeta walking over to the bathroom he had taken his first shower here in, and again he found himself dumbfounded at not perceiving the obvious. Why the hell was there a bathroom in here in the first place?

Katniss just laughed right back at the man, the question sparking a pleasant memory. "My dad had it specially made actually." She sat herself down on a stool that was painfully out of place in the room. "When he couldn't come up with anything new to record, he'd lock himself up in there. He always said he liked the acoustics of it. I'd sit up against the door just to hear him sing in the shower. Walked into him stark naked more than once or twice in my poor childhood life."

'Well that explains things.' Peeta thought. Leave it to the Everdeens to have odd habits, Prim included. He looked around the room once more. Seeing Katniss drift back into nostalgia told him this was more than just her dad's old studio. Haymitch had said that she had torn the place down herself, and Peeta wondered what exactly there was to tear down. He stared at the now painted walls which concealed the old barren patches of brick against torn wallpaper. There was a lot he wanted to know about Katniss, and he was dying to just sit her down and ask he. It irked him that he felt this way. It was now as if he had an ulterior motive for working on the project. He wanted to get to know Katniss, and not just in a friendly matter either. He gulped at the prospect. It was a long shot, but if there was anything about Peeta Mellark that mattered, it was that he wasn't one not to leave without trying.

George stood up and dusted his hands off, admiring his work. "This place actually looks half decent now." He smiled proudly. "Your father had good taste. This stuff never gets old." He kicked an old amplifier for emphasis. He turned on the power and fixed some jacks and a deafening screech bellowed throughout the room. George scrambled to readjust the equipment

"Sounds promising." Peeta laughed.

When George finally rid them of the noise, he continued. "You plan on installing a vocal booth? There's probably even enough room for a separate live booth if you want one." He rubbed his chin and Katniss glanced around the room to find that he was right. There was enough empty space for two isolated booths to be set up instead of subjecting the recordings to outside noise. The instrumental recordings would probably be crisper if they had one. This hadn't actually been a professional studio back in the day and it was mostly for personal use that it was even here. George continued, "I'd hate for that beautiful voice of yours to get drowned out during recording."

Katniss jumped at his words, obviously not expecting an off-hand compliment. "Oh, I'm not singing. I'm just producing, and probably writing and composing, but that's a whole other story." She explained, earning herself a small frown from the man.

"Pity. More of a waste, actually. Always thought I'd get to hear you belting it out again." He shrugged and made his way to the door. "Gotta have a talk with old Haymitch. Why don't you guys try testing things out. It isn't much different from what you're used to. I didn't bother to install some of the old analogue equipment after you told me that friend of yours planned on bringing in newer stuff."

Katniss just nodded awkwardly, playing with the mic that was now suspended above her.

Peeta joined her by her side as he toggled with the mixing console. "You aren't singing?" He asked, trying to be as nonchalant as possible.

She shook her head. "Haymitch and Beetee will have that down to a tee and besides, most of my dad's songs were written for male voices. I don't think I could hit keys that low."

"Isn't that what musical arrangement is for?" He raised a brow at her. "It's like you forget I'm even here."

She laughed at his cockiness. "I'd admire the effort, but I don't think I'm the woman for the job." Her laugh echoed through the room when Peeta toggled a particular switch. "Think of it this way. It'll make your job a hell of a lot easier."

He forced a smile. As much as he enjoyed Katniss finally being able to let go around him, he couldn't help but disagree. It always seemed as if the girl was selling herself short. He wondered if she could even hear herself when she sang. If she could, she probably wouldn't be saying the things she was now. "I think I've got a hang of this now." Peeta said finally. "Wanna take this baby for a spin?" He smiled, urging her to do the obvious.

"I'm not singing, Peeta Mellark." She smiled, indignant as she folded her arms across each other and crossed her legs on the stool.

"You know you want to" Peeta said sing a sing-song voice, prodding her ever so often to get his point across.

"For someone who works in the music industry, you have a pretty terrible voice." Katniss teased back, shooing his prodding fingers away.

Peeta pouted. "That's why I write lyrics, compose songs and arrange music, and that's why you should sing."Katniss rolled her eyes at him. "Oh come on. Please?" He kneeled, nudging her knees as he put on his best puppy-dog-pout.

"Just so you know, you look ridiculous." She ruffled his hair as she would a dog's. "There's no way that'll work on me. You're not even half as cute as Prim is when she wants something, so you can't really expect me to cave in that easily."

Peeta played along, rubbing his cheek against her knee like a lost puppy. This was a degrading scenario to say the least, but it was an understatement as to how badly he wanted to hear her sing now. In his head, his inner self was scolding him for stooping so low – the lengths he would go through for Katniss Everdeen.

"What the hell is going on here?" Johanna barged into the room to be greeted by the oddest sight in the world. "Is this some kind of fetish?" She visibly cringed at the thought.

Peeta stood up calmly whereas Katniss looked like she was a ghost, pale from the shock being seen like that. Peeta shrugged it off. "Johanna, it's about time you knew." He paused for dramatic effect. "Katniss has a problem." He jokingly covered his eyes and shook his head, adding to the gravity of the implied situation.

Katniss just kicked his leg in response to his antics, and Peeta scrambled to get away from her, thankful that she hadn't kicked his prosthetic. That would have been a disaster. He ignored the pain his one good leg felt for now. He quickly regained composure as Katniss followed her kick up with a slap to his arm.

"I'm just gonna pretend I didn't see that." Johanna knew better than to test Katniss' nerves, but Peeta obviously didn't. "George says the equipment's working. I was wondering how soon we could get my drums in."

"We can do it right now if you want." Peeta offered. "George's truck is still out back. I can go pick them up while he finalizes things over here. I've been meaning to pay a visit to the 'rents anyway."

Johanna nodded, not entirely invested in the conversation. All she really wanted was her drum set anyway. "I'll come with you. Old Sae gave Prim a hard time back at the apartment. Gotta make sure the crazy landlady doesn't chase you out at the sight of you." She turned to Katniss, "You comin' brainless?"

Katniss smiled but shook her head. "I should probably get started on writing the new song. You two go on ahead."

Peeta was a little disappointed at her not coming along, but he didn't have much ground to convince her otherwise. He shrugged. Maybe Johanna could fill him in on some missing details.

"Well let's go then. We don't have all day." Johanna tapped her foot impatiently.

"Get me some donuts, will you?" Katniss called out as Peeta rounded the door to the hallway. She smiled.

"Sure thing."

The silence that filled the vehicle was consuming. Not literal silence though. Johanna was busy drumming on any surface she could. It was as if she hadn't been able to hold in her excitement at being able to play the drums in a band again. They had created a monster. And to think he actually thought he'd be able to engage in meaningful conversation with this girl, if by meaningful you meant meaningfully about Katniss. Any prospects of that happening though were now down the drain as Peeta drove according to the directions on a piece of paper, Johanna not even bothering to point the way out. If Peeta had thought he'd be able to pry anything out of Johanna Mason he was wrong. She had sat there, quiet the entire ride and instead let her fingers do the talking as she tapped incessantly on the dashboard to a tune that only she could hear through the large headphones she wore.

Peeta couldn't take it anymore. "Damnit Johanna, will you please just stop it with the drumming?" He asked as politely as he could with a raised voice to make sure she heard.

She removed her headphones causing Peeta to shrink back at the music that leaked out of it. 'How was she not deaf by now?' Peeta wondered.

"Sorry 'bout that." Johanna answered sheepishly. "I'm just really excited." Peeta had guessed just as much. "You can make a right here, it's shorter."

Peeta nodded. At least she was talking to him now. "So you and Katniss were in a band together –"

Johanna bit her lip, only half paying attention. "Yeah. We were. How much do you know exactly?"

He took the liberty of explaining himself, and his presence, leaving out details on who exactly he was in Katniss' life whether the older Everdeen knew it herself or not. He wondered as he did so if Johanna was smart enough to put two and two together.

"So you're like Kat's knight in shining armor." She let out a small laugh. "Charming."

'In more ways than one, really.' He thought back to the incident and his prosthetic leg. It wasn't exactly armor, but it counted for something. "I'm sure you would've done the same."

It was only after they had reached her apartment and loaded the drum set into the truck that the conversation continued.

"I don't know if you've noticed, but Kat's pretty much sold on you bread boy." Johanna teased him as she jumped back into her seat. "She's not usually that open around people she hasn't known for long."

Peeta knew that, but he didn't think he could call what he had with Katniss a very 'open' relationship. Sure, he knew about her past and secrets nobody else knew, but when it came to the little things that people usually dig out first, he knew nothing. He hadn't even thought to ask her about her favorite color. He made it a point to do so the next chance he got. Come to think of it, their entire relationship was upside down, him finding out about the gritty things before even making a scratch on who Katniss was as a person.

Peeta took his seat and buckled up, ready to make his way to the donut shop in town. It was his turn to keep silent, lost in thought. But Johanna wasn't one to go with the flow.

"So you guys own the donut shop?" She asked, sincerely interested. It was probably because the topic concerned food. "I go there practically every day. The bear claws are awesome."

Peeta smiled at that. He was always happy when someone complimented their goods. "It used to be a bakery actually." He told her. "We actually still sell some cakes, bread and pastries, but dad thought it'd be good to add coffee and donuts to the mix and they ended up being the main thing during the donut craze."

Johanna nodded, licking her lips. "You think you could give me a special family discount? I'm practically a regular and all the lady at the counter gives me is a scowl every day."

That lady happened to be his mother, but he held nothing against Johanna. His mother wasn't really a people person. The only reason she handled the register was because she wouldn't trust anybody else with the money. A discount was something unthinkable in their family, but for a friend of Katniss' it would be somewhat of an investment. "Tell you what. I give you a discount, and you give me something in return."

Johanna raised her brow. "If you're going to ask me to go around playing puppy-dog like you and Katniss I'd rather respectfully decline." She looked disgusted at the memory of what she had witnessed just earlier.

Peeta laughed at the girl. "I'm just gonna ask a few questions. You can answer them over coffee, deal?"

"We'll see when we get there."

By the time they got to the donut shop, the place was relatively empty, only a few customers sipping coffee on small tables across from the counter. The familiar ringing of the bell chimes suspended above the entrance was like music to Peeta's ears and soon enough he was being engulfed in a hearty embrace by a man with the same blonde hair, standing a few inches taller than he. "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes." The man greeted the boy.

Peeta gave his father's back a small pat after being released from the hug. "Mom?" He asked, not really caring for the answer. It was a pleasant surprise, really – her not being there at the counter.

"She's out, high school reunion or something." Johanna cleared her throat to remind the two of their presence. "Well if it isn't my favorite customer! Take a seat!"

Johanna smiled. "I'll have two of my regular. This guy's paying." She might as well get that out of the way before Peeta had the chance to decline.

The man just looked to his son, surprised. "She's a friend of a friend." He explained briefly, not exactly wanting to have to recount everything that happened. "Johanna, this is my father, Ben."

"Yeah, I could tell by his nametag. Sheesh Peeta, you're just about as brainless as Katniss." She rolled her eyes as she took a seat.

"Is she the one staying over?" Ben asked quietly, not exactly understanding his son's choice of friends.

"No, it's a girl named Rue that'll be staying here. She might come in tomorrow. Is mom okay with it?" He wasn't entirely sure what the arrangement would be. His father was just so elated at his call that he hadn't exactly had time to plan things out.

"She doesn't mind as long as the girl pulls her weight." The man got to work on the girl's orders as she spoke. "I saw you on the news the other day. Found out you'd be working on a Joe Everdeen's tribute album." He gave his son a congratulatory slap on the back. "Looks like all your dreams are comin' true."

Peeta grinned widely, appreciative that his father actually took time off to keep track of his endeavors. "Yeah, that's why I'm here actually. Who would've thought that the Everdeens lived right in the outskirts of town. They own the estate I always used to drive by."

The older Mellark's eyes widened at his words. "That beat up old place? I always thought it was owned by the government."

"I know, right? Took me a while to process the information as well." Peeta told him about the studio and how they were setting up in town. He told his father about the band, Johanna and Haymitch, and about Rue and why she'd be staying over. He made it a point to get a little in about Katniss as well, her being his idol's daughter and all. He didn't tell him about the accident, or about how Snow was a manipulative bastard, that would probably take an entire day to recount.

"Slow down, boy. I know this means a lot to you but you're talking really fast." The man laughed at how excited his son was getting. "I'm really glad you're working so close to home. Do you think it would be too much if I asked you to stay here as well? It'll save you the gas."

Peeta looked to Johanna, who shook her head furiously. "Sorry dad, but we're going to be pretty busy these next few days, probably weeks and even months. They need me there right now." That and he didn't really have it in him to leave Katniss. "The Everdeens have been really kind, letting us stay over. Rue was just an unexpected complication. I'm really glad you're doing this for us. I'll make sure to visit often."

Ben slung an arm around his son's shoulder as he walked him to the table that Johanna was now drumming against, lost in her music. "Whatever you got to do, little man." He laughed as he served Johanna her order and two cups of coffee. "You two enjoy now. I've got a few orders to prepare for the police station. Seems they ran out."

"Thanks dad." He sat down and watched as Johanna began ravenously devouring her bear claw.

"Took you long enough." She talked with her mouth full. "So what exactly did you want to ask me?"

'A lot of things.' He thought, juggling questions in his head and at a loss as to where exactly he should start. He decided he'd start with what had been bugging him most recently. He figured the questions would just draw themselves out from there. "Katniss doesn't sing anymore. Why is that?"

"Well that's obvious." Johanna took another bite. "It reminds her of her father. Next question."

He was a bit unnerved at her frankness. He didn't think he could get anything more out of her than that. "How do I get her to sing again then?" He asked, venturing out for more on the topic. "Aside from, you know, lightning, thunder, explosions."

Johanna stopped. "How do you know about that?" She looked alarmed.

"There was a storm back in L.A. I know, unbelievable right? So much for sunny California." He stopped when Johanna looked as if that wasn't the answer she was looking for. She probably thought he had known more, and he did. He just wasn't showing it. "The lightning scared her to death and then she sang."

Johanna let out a small laugh. "And then the siren brought all the wayward sailors to their untimely death at sea. Join the club." She seemed to know a lot about the effect Katniss had on people as well. "Been there, done that. Stopped sailing off into nowhere when I found out my ship had no destination."

Peeta didn't entirely understand the girl's words, but he figured that Johanna's feelings for the Everdeen ran much deeper than just friendship. They were on the same boat.

"If you want to get her to sing, go ahead and take a shot at it, believe me we've tried." She took a sip of her coffee. "Anything else?"

He didn't reply immediately. There was something else that bugged him, although he wasn't sure if it was in Johanna's realm to answer. "Katniss and Gale-" he began, testing the waters. Johanna didn't seem fazed by it at all. "What are they? I mean, are they? I don't know."

Johanna sighed. "It's-"

"Complicated" Peeta completed her sentence just as he had for Katniss not long ago. "Yeah I know. I've been told that way too many times. That's why I'm asking you." Peeta was frustrated, maybe it was the topic of conversation or the fact that he wasn't getting anywhere closer to knowing Katniss better, but he didn't usually feel this peeved at something.

"I guess you could say they're a thing." Johanna didn't have the right word for it, but her implications were sufficient to pack a punch. "They've known each other since forever, really, and just like the rest of us, he was there when Katniss, rather, all of us went downhill. He was part of the band too. I regret putting both of them through that. I was the eldest and yet I was probably the most at fault. Needless to say, Gale was the one who brought Katniss out of it after her father died, while I spent my time tending to my own issues." She seemed bitter about it. "I could've done what he did, you know? Rescue her. But they picked themselves up together."

Peeta felt genuinely sorry for the girl knowing now just how much she felt about Katniss. He wondered now how she felt about him. It must've been clear by now how interested he was in his idol's daughter, way past the point fanaticism could account for or justify. But Johanna continued.

"Seven years ago, they eloped." This caught Peeta off guard. "Well, at least we thought they did. Supposedly they got married, but I'm not even sure if even that was real or if Gale was just so desperate to fix the girl that he sacrificed his dignity and name just to get her back on track. Couldn't blame him either. I probably would have done the same if I were in the right mind or in another universe. I was pissed for the most part that he would go that far, but looking back at it now, I guess I have him to thank that she's still alive."

This was news to him. He had wondered how Katniss worked so close to the business and yet was able to keep herself on the down low, at least before outed her without her choice. She had been using Gale's name all along. She was like a different person with a different identity. She had tried that hard to escape her past. He gulped. "So Gale was her scapegoat."

"You make him sound like such a martyr when all he was being was selfish." She spat, her mood suddenly turning sour. "Just a little more – even the tiniest push and she would have gotten things back together in her own time. You have no idea how much headway Prim made on her sister's condition. Given a little time, Katniss would have healed, but instead, Gale made her scar over." She gripped her cup tighter as she spoke. "She could have fought her own battles. He didn't have to fight them for her."

Peeta nodded. The Katniss now and the Katniss that could have been were certainly different in his mind. If she hadn't run away from what happened, she could have spent her days more meaningfully, instead of scrambling in any way she could to make up for lost time. But when it all boiled down to it, what Johanna didn't know was that if he was just able to save Joseph Everdeen, she wouldn't have had to face the problem at all.

"So now here you are, digging into a pile of broken goods." Johanna now stared intently at him. "What is it you're looking for, bread boy?"

Peeta didn't back down. "She isn't broken goods." He paused to gather his bearings. "If she was I'd be trying to fix her. But I'm not doing that."

"So what are you doing then?"

"George Undersee isn't the only one who can bring some life back into old equipment." He smiled, hopeful despite it all. "She's not broken, she just doesn't remember how to live."

Johanna couldn't help but return his smile. "I was wrong about you." She took his hand in hers and squeezed it, giving him her approval. "Maybe you're just what she needs."

Notes: Okay, so Johanna, in this story, is gay. I'm not entirely sure it's canon, but I read somewhere that she was written as such, but please forgive me if I'm wrong. I'm fleshing Gale out as a character, but it's a tiring process, but necessary, because he plays a much larger role than you guys would think.

Hope you caught the metaphors I inserted as well, with the studio once being white and barren and it now suddenly coming to life. I hope this draws parallels to how Katniss is suddenly living her life the way she would have had she been able to heal her own wounds naturally. Now I hope it's easier to understand where Prim's resentment for Gale originates.

And yes, it's a donut shop, because most grocery stores carry a bakery anyway, and I see so few of them around for them to count as a family-owned business, but I could be wrong. And besides, I like donuts.

Anyway, I'm going to be in Hong Kong for awhile for a concert on May 27th and I'm going to be busy while I'm there, so I might not be able to update any of my stories until the 29th or 30th. I hope you guys can wait for the update until then.

Now for the Reader Pop Quiz! Again, you have two options to reply to in the reviews for an EXTENDED PREVIEW of the next chapter.

Answer this question: What does Johanna usually have from Peeta's family's donut store?

OR

Tell me what song you would most likely listen to while reading this story.

(Thank you Secrets of the Nameless for inadvertently giving me the idea for this question when you commented on my other story)

I for one listen to Our Lady Peace (Clumsy and Innocent in particular) while writing. There's another song I listen to, but I plan on including that one in the story so I won't give it away. It's an honest question as I'm looking for new songs to add to my playlist.

Chapter 9: Party Rockers

When Johanna and Peeta got back, they were in more amicable terms. Johanna had spent the drive back telling Peeta embarrassing stories about Katniss and their escapades as a band. He was happy to have the older girl on his side as someone he could confide in with his troubles. He just sincerely hoped she wouldn't tease him about his now open emotions for the girl, as he knew she had the tendency to do.

When they opened the door to the Everdeen's house, they were greeted by the sight of a tall bronze-haired man with Katniss caught in his arms in a tight embrace. He seemed quite friendly with her and both Johanna and Peeta had to bite back growls at the sight.

"Well there you two are!" Prim was giddy, shifting at the balls of her feet. She clapped her hands lightly and pointed to the man in their living room, trying hard for her voice not to sound too much like a squeal. "You won't believe it – it's Finnick Odair!"

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For all of you who haven't already read it, I just updated my other story Learn to Fly a few days ago so go ahead and take a look! And for all of those who have, sorry again for the shameless plug. I'm sure you're tired of it by now, haha.