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"Oh."
I lean back, pretty disappointed. I'm dying of blood poisoning here, and they send some hot broth?
Well, I'm glad Katniss won't starve to death in the arena. She'll make it. I smile warmly to myself at the thought.
"You need to eat it," Katniss says unexpectedly.
"What?"
"You..." she trails off, blinking back tears. I don't want to see her crying, so I close my eyes. "you've got to eat it, Peeta."
"No," I say, opening my eyes again and smiling slightly at her confused expression. Even with a face matted with mud and tiredness, I could still see the beauty.
"What 'no'? Peeta, you've got to eat something!" Katniss says, holding the pot higher to my face.
I push it away, shaking my head. "You've got to win, Katniss."
"No!" she says. I'm surprised to hear her sound so angry and fierce. "Peeta, if I win, you'll be right next to me. You'll be with me until the end."
It wasn't a question, it was a statement.
"Alright," I whisper.
"So will you eat it?"
I wanted to say no. "Yes."
Katniss smiled warmly and crawled towards me. I lift my arm and put it around her, and she snuggles into my chest.
"Here." She hands me the pot and places it on my good leg. I don't look down, for I'm pretty sure I will catch a glimpse of my other leg, which I don't want to see.
"You've got to eat something too," I mutter.
"I've got the mint leaves," she whispers, and nods encouragingly. "eat."
I squeeze her shoulders tightly and look down at the pot. She's covered my leg. I don't want to find out with what.
With my free hand, I uncap the pot and inhale the fresh-smelling steam issuing from it. Mmm. Smells good.
It would be better if I could share it.
"Eat," Katniss says again, burying her face in my chest.
"No," I whisper.
"Oh, Peeta, not this again," she whispers, looking up into my eyes. "eat it. Please? I don't... I don't want you to die."
"I'm not going to die Katniss," I say firmly, and put the cover back on the small pot. "you should eat it. I don't want you to die of hunger."
"Peeta -- "
"I would die for you anytime. Now eat it," I say. This wasn't just for the audience -- it was a fact.
"Peeta, I swear, if you don't eat it, I'll pour it in your mouth," Katniss threatens. Wow, that's the first time I ever heard her in such a deadly tone.
"Nah."
"Peeta," she says, almost close to tears again. She sits up and I let my arm slide down, still wrapped around her, but on her waist this time. "will you do it... if I do this?"
Katniss leans into me and kisses me softly on the lips. I love the feeling.
She pulls away a little too quickly and smiles sadly at me.
"Now?"
"Now what?" I ask, a little dazed.
"Can you eat?"
"Only if you share it with me," I say.
"Peeta, please," she begs, now leaning back on the cave wall and giving me the signal to wrap my arm around her shoulders now.
"Alright," I say.
"Really, this time?"
"Yes."
"Prove it," she says, raising her eyebrows and looking up at me from my chest.
"Fine."
I reach over and uncap the pot once again, then I lift it to my mouth and slowly drink a spoonful.
"Good," Katniss whispers, sighing and looking back down to relax. "drink up, okay?"
"'Kay."
I drink up, not wanting to break my promise to Katniss. How hard it would be if I hadn't had drank this... she would be begging and I would have to give in again, this time, the harder way.
Finally, I empty the pot and lean down to kiss her hair. "'Night, sweetheart."
"Did you finish it?" Katniss says, turning around and looking up at me.
I show her the empty pot and she grins.
"Go to sleep, Peeta."
