Flower Born of Flame

Chapter 7

Annoyance.

Yes, that was definitely the word in this case.

"You know kid," Haymitch drawled. "I've met people with really strange luck, but you really take the cake with this one," the older man chuckled, probably at his own joke.

Peeta bit the inside of his lip so he would remain silent.

Why had he done this to himself? Oh yes, to help the girl he loved. That's right. Otherwise he would have said, 'Hell with it'.

But then again, Peeta had been the one that asked Haymitch for help in the first place, so he had no place to talk or tell him off. If the older man thought the entire thing was hilarious, who was Peeta to stop him from laughing? Still, it didn't make him feel better about the situation.

Realizing that he couldn't leave Katniss in his bed, Peeta came up with the plan of carrying her back to her own room. Only he came to a bump in that road since he couldn't open the door and carry her at the same time. Hence, he asked the literal closest person on the train to help him. Thankfully Haymitch hadn't gone to sleep yet.

Admittedly when Peeta knocked on his door, Haymitch looked confused about his presence more than anything. That was until Peeta asked for his assistance. As soon as Peeta mentioned the combination of Katniss, drugs and sleeping in his bed, Haymitch's curiosity was roused. So it was no surprise to Peeta that when he presented the unconscious Katniss on his bed Haymitch decided to start laughing about it.

Peeta wasn't sure if his mentor was there to assist him, or just laugh at his attempts to alleviate the situation.

But as long as Haymitch held the door open, Peeta didn't really care.

Turning to look at the older man, who was surprisingly, for once, without any alcohol on him, Peeta gave him a sour expression. "Are you going to help me or not?" he asked condescendingly.

With another chuckle, Haymitch waved at him like he was dismissing him before going over to the bedside table. He didn't even glance at Katniss. "Don't get up in fit, kid," he retorted. "I'll help ya, just hold on for a second."

Their mentor did the same thing that Peeta had done, testing the mug by inhaling the scent. Peeta walked over slowly, watching as the older man picked up something that Peeta realized he had overlooked. It was a small bottle, the label had a big bold name on it, accompanied by lots of small lettering. Haymitch held it up inches away from his eyes, pulling it back and then towards him again. It was like he was trying to focus the object.

"Good old fashioned painkillers," he finally declared. Haymitch glanced over to him with a wolfish grin. "Her head had bound to hurt after colliding with your hard one."

Peeta frowned and bit his tongue this time. He wasn't going to start. "She took those?" he inquired innocently.

Haymitch shrugged. "That's my best guess," he responded, examining the bottle better. He was reading the smaller print this time. He muttered to himself for a few seconds before he began reading aloud. "Hm … 'Do not take with sleeping medi– '," Haymitch started reading, but he cut himself off and briefly looked worried. It made Peeta uneasy; Haymitch didn't do worried. "Oh crap," his mentor said absently, almost like it wasn't that big of a deal.

Peeta on the other hand did think it was a big deal.

"What do you mean?" he interrogated, speaking rather quickly. Although Haymitch had cut himself off, Peeta knew that he was about to say, 'Do not take with sleeping medications'. And if that was true, that definitely meant something bad. "What's wrong, is she gonna be alright?"

Haymitch's eyes narrowed as he gave Peeta a half-frown. "What do you take me for? If she was in any real danger, no way I'd still be here – I'd have already gone and got the medic."

Peeta briefly thought a little higher of Haymitch. At least he was still a little human.

"Besides, you have any idea how much Little-Miss-Schedule would get all in a tizzy if we needed a new tribute?"

That higher thought of Haymitch then left right away.

"She'll be alright," Haymitch then assured him. He tossed the bottle down on the table before he turned to the girl in question and crossed his arms. "She'll wake up in the morning, it's just in the mean time …"

Haymitch's head leaned backwards for a few seconds as he appeared to be thinking about something, rubbing the back of his neck before straightening it again. "In the mean time, what?" Peeta prodded, this time a hint of annoyance laced in his concern.

Their mentor reached over and picked up Katniss's arm with one hand. It was slack in his hold. As soon as he raised it up about a foot, he let it drop back down. He didn't do it delicately, but not harshly either. Haymitch proceeded to do this about a couple more times.

Katniss didn't even twitch.

"Well, she'll sleep like the dead for thing," Haymitch finally told him, gesturing to Katniss as if showing Peeta an example. "And if she does happen to wake up with both those drugs in her system …"

Peeta was beginning to grow tired of prying answers out of the older man. "And if she does wake up?" he asked, this time obviously annoyed.

Haymitch picked up on his annoyance and just gave him a look. "She'll start rambling like she's drunk," he finished.

That was it? Really? There wasn't something a little more … life-threatening?

"Drunk?" Peeta echoed, like he thought the older man was joking.

"That's what I said, didn't I?" Haymitch declared, giving Peeta the hairy eyeball. "You know, she'll start acting like a little kid, or she'll say something really weird – stuff like that."

In other words, Katniss would be the complete opposite of normal. Peeta knew that people said things they didn't want to while drunk, like things that they would normally keep to themselves. They would also act without restraint, and sometimes they might even give away secrets.

What part of that did Peeta dislike if Katniss were to act like this? Oh, that was right – nothing.

Peeta rubbed his eyes with his fingers before pushing them up to run through his hair. He still had a big problem on his hands. "So I can move her?" he asked hopefully.

Haymitch chuckled. "Yeah," he answered. "She probably won't remember a thing too – even if she does wake up right now. The syrup relaxes ya, and the painkillers make ya forget you have any worries. That combination 'ill make her more compliant than a hooker you've already paid off tenfold." Peeta didn't like that analogy, but Haymitch then gave him a look. "Don't you go gettin' any ideas though," he warned.

It was Peeta's turn to look at him condescendingly. He would never do that to Katniss, never. Even if his hormones were yelling at him to take advantage of her in such a vulnerable state. He'd never go that far, but maybe just tell her everything he wanted to reveal to her.

But that … Peeta didn't want that from Katniss, not in the way Haymitch described.

No, if – and only if – Peeta ever had a chance to be with Katniss in that way, he wanted her to be fully aware of everything that was going on. Then there was the part where Peeta wished for Katniss to want it as much as he did, and for her to enjoy it too. He also wanted her to remember it like he knew he would, as something he would cherish for the rest of his days.

Doing it without all those factors … wasn't love. It was something else, something that he didn't want to have with her. Without all those things, Peeta didn't know how anyone could enjoy that kind of affection.

Peeta didn't respond to the comment. "Are you going to get the door or not?" he asked. Changing the subject was usually the best idea when avoiding a question.

"Yeah, yeah, don't get excited kid," Haymitch responded. "Pick her up first, okay?"

Peeta nodded, and Haymitch took it upon himself to back away from the bed. The mentor knew without asking that Peeta would need a little room.

Only when Peeta came up beside Katniss and looked over her again, a problem arose in his mind. How was he supposed to pick her up without touching her anywhere … inappropriate? With the amount of skin she was showing, he highly doubted if it was even possible. But she wasn't even going to remember. How could she remember something she didn't even witness?

Haymitch noticed his pause. "She ain't gonna bite ya," he mentioned with a grin, elbowing him in the side.

Peeta didn't respond. He pushed away his cautions and just thought about it in a normal situation. How would he pick up someone who wasn't Katniss? Moving swiftly, he knelt down and first reached under her legs, resting the crook of her knees over his arm. His other arm slid under her shoulders, and he delicately pulled her to sit up.

Katniss's head hung against her shoulder limply, and her arms were sprawled out unceremoniously. At first he thought he could clasp her upper arm, his arm under her back but he realized that she would slide out of his grasp like that. Last thing Peeta needed was to have explain to Katniss how she had gotten several bruises in the middle of the night, without knowing how they'd gotten there. Despite his own protests, he was forced to grasp her around the waist. By redistributing her weight a little, he was able to get her head to lean against his shoulder.

Once she was safely positioned in his arms, Peeta stood up and turned to Haymitch expectantly. He didn't want to touch Katniss for longer than he needed. It was too much of a dangerous territory. "Ready?"

Haymitch only blinked, brow going up with a little surprise. "Ain't she heavy at all?" he asked absently.

Peeta paused. What did that have to do with anything? And was Haymitch implying there was a reason for Katniss to be heavy? They were looking at the same girl right? The same thin, small girl from the Seam. How would she be heavy?

Peeta had to think about it carefully. He looked down to the girl in his arms briefly. No, Katniss wasn't heavy. In fact she was lighter than air. Her body was surprisingly soft and supple against his own, melding against his chest nicely. Peeta could feel the slight pressure of several of her ribs pressed up against the arm that was wrapped around her waist.

She was so thin … it was possible that she would have been heavy?

But then Peeta noticed something else. With the close proximity of her head to his own, he could fully embrace scent of her hair. It was a very faint fragrance, not almost pungent like the perfume that Effie liked to wear. It was much softer, almost earthy. The scent reminded him of evergreen trees and freshly dampened soil. Then again, he wouldn't have expected anything less from Katniss.

But since Katniss's head rested on Peeta's shoulder through this thought process, he could feel the the way she was softly breathing against his neck. The short, sharp spurts of air. And then there was the fact that her lips were only inches away from his own …

"No she's not," Peeta said suddenly, cutting off his own line of thought. It had taken him all of less than a second, but to him it seemed like much longer. He didn't want Haymitch to catch onto anything else.

Peeta cursed himself silently when he realized his voice sounded different. He cleared it before continuing. Think Peeta, what else could Haymitch have been referring to?

Suddenly a thought occurred to him. Looking at it from another angle, his mentor could have been implying that Peeta wasn't that strong. "How do you think we got you back to your room?" he asked with an eyebrow raised, trying his best to give his mentor a little attitude.

Haymitch didn't reply to his last remark, but looked impressed that Peeta was able to come up with such a comeback. He merely took a step back and began looking him over carefully, from his head to his feet, and then back up again. While he did this, he reached up to scratch at his bearded jaw before crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes. He was … concentrating.

Well, his mentor was full of surprises, wasn't he?

But the Haymitch was looking at him made Peeta felt like he was an animal carcass at the butcher's shop. It was like Peeta was being sized up, only his mentor was comparing him to other humans and not cuts of meat. Although unnerving, that wasn't the biggest thing on Peeta's mind.

After several seconds of silence, Peeta was still quite aware of the unconscious Katniss in his arms. "What does it matter, anyway?" he asked, trying to push along the conversation.

Haymitch simply shrugged. "Doesn't matter at the moment," he responded finally. "Just something this ole' drunk will need to know for later." He then nodded to the door. "Come on, we need to get her in bed right?"

Getting to the door was relatively easy. Getting Katniss through it was another story. The doors hadn't been made wide enough for someone to walk through it while carrying another person. So in order for Peeta to get her out without banging her legs against the wall, he had to turn and carefully sidestep out into the hallway. It was surprisingly easier than Peeta first imagined, and for a moment Peeta was hopeful that handling the unconscious Katniss would be easier than she initially thought.

That was until he remembered that nothing went according to plan when he was involved.

"What in Panem are you three doing?" suddenly came a sharp Capitol accented voice. Peeta didn't need to look up to see who it was.

Effie.

What was she doing up?

Only Peeta was caught off guard when he saw the source of the voice. This was not the Effie he remembered. Peeta wasn't entirely sure if the person was Effie.

If this was Effie, there was a dramatic change. The woman in front of them had delicate pale skin, face appearing like it had just been wet moments ago. Her complexion was almost perfect, and she appeared only a few years younger than Haymitch. She wore a knee-length bright magenta robe and on her feet were short heels, matching feathers holding them on around her toes.

However there was an obvious give-away that this was Effie. Her real hair was dyed to match the florescent pink color of the infamous wig that Effie wore the rest of the time. It was very thin and delicate, curls relaxed from the pins that Peeta assumed kept it under her wig.

It made Peeta wonder why Effie bothered with the wig in the first place.

The woman in question walked up to the two of them and placed her hands on her hips. "I come to check on things and this is what I find?" she asked her arms gesturing to the unconscious Katniss. "What is going on?"

Yeah, this was Effie.

Haymitch rolled his eyes and let out a sigh. "Don't get ya panties in a twist, Princess," he soothed. "She ain't dead – yet."

The woman's nose wrinkled up like Effie's had done after dinner, and her lips pursed together in a frown at this comment. She also gave Haymitch a knowing glare.

Yup, definitely Effie.

Haymitch continued before Effie had a chance to say anything else. "Someone on this damned train's staff thought it was a good idea for Sweetheart over here to mix sleeping syrup with painkillers," Haymitch continued, twisting his voice a little to mock Effie's accent.

Peeta made a face in thought when he heard Haymitch's nickname. Sweetheart? Was he referring to Katniss? Okay, so that meant that Peeta was 'Kid', Effie was 'Princess' and Katniss was now 'Sweetheart'. It made no sense in Peeta's mind whatsoever, but he thought it was a good idea to keep it as a mental note anyway.

Effie seemed to completely disregard Haymitch's mocking, but didn't stay silent. Her stiffened appearance increased when she heard the mentor's explanation. "Why, who would condone such a thing!" she asked, bewildered. Even Effie knew how foolish the combination was. "That's like asking for trouble."

"We figured that out too, Princess," Haymitch answered, nodding to the unconscious girl in Peeta's arms. "Now if you'd be so kind to move out of the way, the kid's gotta take her back to her room, okay?"

Effie opened her mouth to say something, but Haymitch walked passed her before she could. He slapped a button beside Katniss's chamber door and the thing slid open. If Peeta had known it was that easy, he might not have asked Haymitch for help.

Too late now.

Haymitch held Effie back to allow Peeta as much room as he needed to get her through the door. It was much like getting her out of his own room, but going the opposite direction. Instead of leading with her feet first like he'd done the last time, he backed Katniss's head into the room first. Somehow her head had slipped from Peeta's shoulder and began to loll around loosely. He wasn't about to risk banging it against something.

By then Peeta realized it was a good idea to ask for Haymitch's help in the first place, once Effie started chattering away. Once Haymitch told her what Katniss ingested, the chaperone began going on about scolding the staff.

Thankfully, this is when Haymitch corralled Effie in the hallway, keeping her out of the room and allowing Peeta to move without having to worry about bumping into someone. He was already carrying one person, and just moving her without having to worry about obstacles was complicated enough.

Peeta wasn't all that certain what Haymitch did to distract Effie after that, because as soon as he went in the room the door closed behind him and it was quieter. Much quieter. He could hear a few muffled words exchanged between the two, but they faded out shortly after that. Besides, Peeta wasn't exactly paying attention to anyone outside the room.

Because as soon as the door shut, the body in his arms twitched.

Peeta froze.

Katniss's head rose up from its inclined position rather slowly. Arms came up, instinctively clutching Peeta's shoulders her half-lidded eyes blinked continuously. Her head swayed a little, almost like it was too heavy for her neck.

"What's going on?" she asked groggily, not even bothering to look at Peeta. Her tone was almost like that of a child's, bewildered and curious. "Where am I?"

Peeta paused before he spoke. "We're in your room," he told her calmly. If what he knew about drunk people was true, it was usually best just to humor them. Katniss wasn't drunk, but she was close enough to it. "You fell asleep in mine, remember?"

Katniss just stared out into space in front of her, blinking several times like she couldn't see. "We're on the train," she said, but it was more like a question than a statement.

Realizing it wasn't a good idea to just keep standing there with her in his arms, Peeta began the process of heading over to the side of the bed. Katniss instantly tightened her hold on him as he began moving, bracing herself. As soon as Peeta reached the bed, he began to lower Katniss down on top of the covers. As he resting her head back against the pillows and took his arms out from around her, he went to stand up straight only the hands remained. Katniss clutched his neck firmly, and didn't seem like she was ready to let go.

As if this wasn't difficult enough.

But Peeta managed to gently but firmly unclench her hands from his shoulders before he laid them down on her abdomen. "Yes, we're on the train," he finally answered her. Kneeling down onto the floor, he looked her in the eye in hopes she would hear him better. Head leaning back against the pillows, she was looking at him blankly. Her eyes were still only half open, but it was clear she was able to see him. "Do you remember getting on the train?"

There was a pause before Katniss did anything else. She blinked, then her arm rose up and she pressed a lazy finger to Peeta's cheek. "Boy with … bread," she muttered almost incoherently. Her raised hand then fell to the bed with a plop.

Peeta wasn't exactly sure what Katniss meant by this, but if he had to guess she was recognizing him, in her own drunken way. He couldn't help but find the term endearing. "Yeah, I'm Peeta," he said with a small smile.

"Pee-ta," was the next thing out of Katniss' mouth. It was like she was rolling around the sound of the name in her mouth, like she was tasting it. She let out an exasperated sigh and quickly moved her head upright. "Did you get the milk?" she asked hopefully.

He paused. The other, full mug of milk on the tray. So Katniss had brought that for him after all. It made Peeta feel a little better. Well, at least she didn't hate him. It also cleared up the reason behind her impromptu visit to his room. Peeta's imagination's reason had been a lot better (and included less clothing), but part of him was relieved that hadn't been the reason. He would have made a complete and utter idiot of himself if he was caught off guard by that scenario.

Thinking back to Katniss's question, Peeta remembered that he hadn't drank the beverage for fear of falling asleep just like Katniss had. Although, he didn't think it was a good idea to tell the dazed Katniss that. "Yes, I got it. Thank you."

Katniss moaned as she pushed against the bed in an attempt to sit up, but she failed. Peeta didn't rush to help her, hoping that she would give up on her own. That way he wouldn't have to touch her again. Peeta wanted to, but didn't at the same time. It was really the strangest feeling Peeta had ever experienced. Katniss didn't give up though. Once completely sitting, her hand flopped down on the mattress next to her, but she had done it distinctively. It was a gesture to sit down.

Peeta had no idea why, but he complied.

"I hit your head," she said, once Peeta had sat down next to her. Although she was sitting up, she couldn't keep her balance and was forced to recline on the numerous pillows behind her. It was enough to keep her steady. "With mine," she clarified. "I'm sorry."

For a few seconds Peeta just looked at Katniss, trying to figure out her train of thought from her face, but it was a lost cause. Katniss showed absolutely no emotion, and her eyes looked like they were fighting back sleep, blinking as her pupils attempted rolled backwards. She could only focus on his face for so long. But that didn't refrain Peeta from reaching the conclusion he was looking for.

Katniss thought that when they knocked heads, it had been her own fault. And that was the reason she'd brought the milk, as an apology. Peeta almost chuckled at the irony.

Even if Peeta told her the truth, Katniss wouldn't even remember.

Peeta only smiled at her genuinely. There was the Katniss he knew he loved. Never blaming anyone but herself. "It's okay. It didn't hurt that much," he soothed.

But Peeta then remembered that Katniss was fighting sleep. Not only was it not good for her, but he needed to be getting some sleep as well. "You should rest," he encourage her. He moved to stand. "We have a lot to do tomorrow."

Katniss immediately shook her head in defiance. Then without warning she reached out and grabbed a hold of his hand, pulling him back and preventing him from leaving the bed. "Wait," she begged longingly in a whisper. "Wait …" She said it in such a way, Peeta had to comply.

Peeta looked at their clasped hands. Katniss was holding on tightly, with more force than he would have guessed she owned. She then pulled at his arm, summoning Peeta closer towards her. Again, he complied willingly. At that point, Peeta's torso was only centimeters away from her own.

"I have to thank you," she finally muttered. By this time, her eyes were completely closed, but she still managed to speak. Katniss folded her arm back and it rested on her shoulder, but she didn't let go of Peeta's hand.

Katniss gave it another tug so he would come closer, but this time the closer proximity was awkward. If Peeta came that close without wanting to touch her or fall over on top of her, he had to keep himself upright. To do that, he needed to prop himself up with his arm. And to do that, he needed to place his hand on the other side of Katniss's waist.

At that point Peeta was trying really hard to figure out what was going on. He sat there with his bared torso just hovering several inches away from Katniss's barely dressed one. Their faces were at least farther away from each other than that, and for that Peeta was thankful. But even still, this was more than Peeta could handle for one evening.

Think … think! What had she said!

"Thank me?" he questioned. Peeta was grateful he was able to maintain his normal tone of voice. He had no idea how, but he wasn't about to question it either. Not that Katniss would remember this anyway. "Why?" He really was a little curious about her earlier statement. "What for?"

Katniss's eyes finally reopened, and this time they were steady and locked squarely with his own. "Don't you remember?" she asked him, a small smile coming onto her lips. "You gave me the bread … "

Peeta felt things become still as he heard these words. Bread. Katniss was thanking him for bread.

" …those years ago," the girl in front of him continued.

Wait a minute … the bread?

"Was raining," Peeta heard Katniss say next. He heard her, but he wasn't looking at her. He was looking out into space. "You burned them on purpose … for me. Threw loaves to me."

Peeta couldn't believe what he was hearing. Although Katniss could no longer form proper sentences anymore, it hardly seemed to matter. He was still able to understand her without a problem. She remembered that? She actually remembered that? After all that time?

He found his eyes locking back with hers as she reached her free hand up to his face once again. This time she placed the base of her palm to the edge of his jawbone. It was all she could do in her tired state. "Your mom hit you," she muttered out. Her brow furrowed as her lips turned down slightly in a frown. She touched a shaky finger to his temple. "Bruise right here."

Katniss took in a large sigh that sounded more like a yawn than anything, moving her head slightly. "Wanted to thank you – so long now," she went on. "But … nervous."

Peeta processed her words carefully, concentrating very hard. For some reason he had become solely interested in what she was saying and nothing else. Not even their close proximity came to mind. He realized what Haymitch had been saying earlier, about Katniss rambling on. Indeed, she was saying things she normally wouldn't say.

Had she really held that thanks in her for all those years?

At the time, Peeta hadn't done it because he wanted recognition. He wanted to help her, that was all. She was suffering because of reasons she couldn't control, and Peeta was in the position to help. He didn't think there was anything that could have prevented him from helping Katniss back then.

Still, a part of him was glad that Katniss knew. It wasn't because he wanted her indebted to him or anything. It was because a part of him hoped Katniss would see the gesture just as he had – something more than just one human helping another. Did she see it that way?

Peeta gathered his thoughts together as he swallowed, clearing his throat before looking her in the eye once more. "You're welcome," was the only thing he could think of to reply.

Her eyes were closed again, and Katniss didn't make much of an expression other than the muscles in her face relaxing. But then the slightest of smiles crept up onto her lips as her eyes opened fully. "I'm glad," she muttered softly.

Peeta didn't have time to even think about responding to this, as in the next few seconds a number of things happened that made him freeze. The hand that was laced with his own gave a firm tug, forcing him forward. His weight, once balanced on his other arm, was knocked over and he fell forward faster than he could react to stop himself. Although he was solely concerned about crushing the smaller girl beneath him, Peeta had a completely different reason to forget about that.

Because as Katniss pulled him down, she also lifted herself up slightly. Sitting up, she pulled her head towards his own before pressing her lips against his.

And that's when the world seemed to stopped.

(A/N: Okay, I did not abandon/forget about this fic. This is my excuse: I recently started a job in a factory working 6 PM-6AM. Yes, that is twelve hours straight and all night... but I'm broke and it pays well. So yeah, all my free time I've been spending sleeping ... hope you guys don't mind. Anywho...here is my much anticipated update. I hope you guys like. Please reading and review!)