By the time Johanna got back to the room Katniss had already left for the day. Johanna knew she wouldn't be back until 5:30 at the earliest so she decided to try and sleep to pass the time. She quickly showered and got dressed after her early morning workout and then burrowed herself in the covers of her bed, finding that it still smelled faintly of Katniss. She smiled before she could stop herself and closed her eyes, trying to find rest. After several hours of tossing and turning, she finally got up and started absentmindedly cleaning the shared room. She had just started folding her laundry when she heard someone jiggling the lock on the other side of the door. The clock on the bedside table read 3:30, two hours before Katniss would be back. She froze, straining to hear who was on the other side of the door. As the lock jiggled again Johanna grabbed the knife she kept under her mattress. Gripping it tightly in her right hand, she soundlessly approached the door. The door to the room suddenly burst open and Katniss stumbled in. Her eyes grew wide as she locked in on the knife in Johanna's hand and a flicker of fear washed across her face.

"Holy shit, Katniss. You scared the hell out of me!" Johanna said, loosening her grip on the knife and lowering her arm to her side.

"I scared you? You were the one wielding a knife at me!" Katniss exclaimed, throwing her backpack on the bed.

Johanna chuckled and asked, "How was I supposed to know you were going to be done early? That could've been anyone at the door." She lifted her mattress and put the knife back into place before continuing to fold her laundry. "Why're you done early anyways?" she inquired.

Katniss sat on the edge of Johanna's bed and started to help fold as she answered, "I didn't feel like staying. I'd rather be here than in the control room listening to Plutarch and everyone else ramble on about the next set of propos." Katniss continued to fold as she prattled on about the different scenarios that they had discussed for future propos. Johanna was surprised by how talkative Katniss was; she was typically quiet after coming back from the day. She nodded her head and added, "I see," at the right times while Katniss continued. After putting the laundry away, Katniss paused and looked around the room. Her eyebrows came together slightly as she asked, "Did you clean?"

Johanna scoffed slightly and muttered, "Yeah, so?"

Katniss shook her head and said, "Just wondering…it looks good in here."

Johanna rolled her eyes and lay down on the bed, folding her arms behind her head. She felt her hair still in the stiff braid from this morning. She smirked to herself as she looked at Katniss who wore the same braid.

Katniss was still griping about the day's events as she moved around the room unpacking her bag. Her hair was just starting to fall out of her braid and she frequently blew pieces of hair out of her face. Johanna noticed little things about her that she hadn't seen before. Like the way that her hands moved as she talked animatedly and the delicate tendons that danced across her neck as she flitted around the room. She noted the room was quiet before realizing Katniss had asked her a question. "Sorry, what?" she asked, observing the bright look in her eyes.

Katniss snorted, "You okay there, Brainless? I asked if you wanted to go to dinner early, I'm starving."

Johanna sat up and replied, "Sure…but let's get one thing straight."

Katniss's eyebrows furrowed as she waited for Johanna to finish. Johanna waited a moment before saying, "You're Brainless…not me." She smirked as Katniss playfully scowled in her direction.

"Whatever you say, Jo. You ready?" Katniss asked.

Johanna turned to face the wall as she put on her shoes. She grinned at hearing Katniss use Finnick's old nickname for her. "Sure."

They came back from dinner a couple hours later. Katniss tossed her jacket on the floor and flopped down on the bed. "I know I have to shower but I'm way too fucking exhausted," she groaned.

Johanna laughed and replied, "No way, you definitely need to shower. I can smell you from here." She took off her shoes and lay down on her own bed before yawning.

Katniss groaned one last time before resigning, "Fine." She rolled off the bed and grabbed her towel before heading to the bathroom. She started the shower and flung her towel over the hook on the back of the bathroom door. As she turned around, she noticed Johanna changing in the next room through the crack in the door. She watched the way the muscles on her back moved and flexed as she shed her thin shirt and discarded it on the bed. Johanna shrugged her shoulders and then stretched both of her arms over her head, sending a ripple of muscles straight down her spine. She was certainly skinnier after her time spent in the capitol, but it was clear that her muscles were coming back. In the mirror, she could see Johanna's collar bones protruding from her neck. She looked over her body once more before she made eye contact with Johanna in the mirror. Panicked, Katniss instantly averted her eyes and climbed into the shower. She waited for the sound of the door closing, but it never came. Under the streaming hot water she thought about how petite Johanna appeared. Her personality was still gruff as ever yet her body was small, delicate even. In her mind, Katniss relived the moment she locked eyes with Johanna. She felt her cheeks flush with heat when she realized the hint of a smirk that was on Johanna's face for a fraction of a second before she turned away.

When Katniss got out of the shower, the lights were off in the room. She quietly tip-toed to her own bed and glanced at Johanna who was curled up under the covers. She was just pulling the blankets back from her own pillow when she heard a muffled voice ask, "Can you stay with me again?"

Katniss took a few moments before replying, "Yeah, sure," into the dark room. She climbed under the covers and found Johanna lying on her side. With her eyes closed, Johanna grudgingly admitted, "I sleep better when you're here." Katniss curled up to face Johanna and pulled the covers over both of their heads. Her knees bumped into Johanna's and her eyes fluttered open. After a few moments Katniss hesitantly reached out her hand to brush a few strands of hair from Johanna's face. Johanna felt Katniss's hand shake slightly as she pulled away. Katniss felt comforted by the feeling of Johanna's warmth radiating from her skin. Johanna sleepily smiled before closing her eyes and mumbling, "G'night Brainless."

In the dark, Katniss felt herself beaming before she could stop herself. She took a deep breath and whispered, "Night."

. . . .