I followed the group into the dining area even though I was in no way hungry. There was a throbbing at my temples and at the base of my skull, probably from how tightly I'd clenched my jaw. I rolled my neck around and tried to loosen up the tension that had built. No good.
The table was laid with a clean white cloth under the china and fine cut crystal dinnerware. I sat down heavily in my chair and opened my mouth wide, trying to get the tightness in my jaw to cease. Again, I had no luck. I felt Katniss looking at me from under her lashes so I set my jaw and offered a tight lipped smile to Portia who sat next to me. I heard a quiet "hmpff" from Katniss as she busied herself with her napkin. Whatever. My emotions were still too raw to try to process anything more at the moment. I reached out for my own napkin and left a dribble of blood on the clean white cloth.
Damn. I had hoped the blood flow would have slowed, but I suppose a few of the nastier punctures in my hand might need medical attention.
"Oh, Peeta! " Portia exclaimed, wrinkling her nose at the speckling of blood on the tablecloth. "Let me take you to medical, love. They'll fix that right up."
I nodded and followed her obediently from the room. In the hallway as the door clicked shut, she whirled to me and threw her arms around my middle. She was a short woman and my height prevented her from a normal hug. I was surprised by it, but I needed the physical contact. I hugged her tightly, resting my chin on her head and felt a scratching in my throat. I cleared my throat and took a deep breath to keep the tears at bay. I was emotionally drained and I knew that Portia knew it.
She stepped back and looked at me, her violet eyes full of understanding. "I know it hurts, Peeta. I know." She leaned in for another tight hug. "Let's go get those hands taken care of, OK?"
Again, I simply nodded and followed her like a young child. She didn't say anything else to me as we walked and when we got to the triage area she simply explained to the medic that there had been an accident and I needed some medical attention. He nodded and turned from his computer screen to face me and his eyes lit up.
"One of the star-crossed lovers from District 12!" He reached out to shake my hand and then recoiled as he saw the blood . "How on earth did that happen?"
"I… Got off balance… And... Fell..." I stammered, not wanting to say that Katniss had been the cause. She would be in trouble for fighting before the Games had begun.
"It turns out Katniss likes it rough" Portia explained, her expression guileless.
"Don't we all?" he snickered. He looked at me appraisingly for a moment and then said, "Well, if you need an extra set of hands to hold you up… Or, you know… Anything else… " He clapped his hand on my back and let his hand linger there. I know he felt my shoulders stiffen and he looked at Portia. He wasn't embarrassed by my obvious discomfort; instead, he just seemed a little confused. "Let me just get some rejuvenation salve. I'd hate for those hands to dampen the rest of your evening."
I'm glad he hadn't taken in my mouth hanging open and the blush that stained my cheeks. No sooner was he out of earshot than I hissed, "Portia! What the hell? Katniss likes it rough? And what the holy hell was he… Did he just… I'm not gay!"
Portia just shook her head and laughed at my bewilderment.
"You don't have to be gay to enjoy variations in sex. And about Katniss, just go with it. Your infatuation is precious, Peeta, but I don't think harmless little school boy fantasies will keep the Capitol going for as long as some other… Shall we say… Deviations." Portia looked at her fingernails for a moment and then smiled sadly at me. "Trust me, love. I've grown up here, remember? It's all fine and good that you probably dream of nothing more passionate than kissing her, but… This is a different world than what you know. Your purity is refreshing, but it won't be understood by these people, OK?"
"What makes you think I'm so pure?" I asked, my voice gruff, my cheeks still burning, trying to tell myself that the idea of Katniss liking it rough was not going to play prominently in my dreams. "I've... I mean... I could've…" I trailed off, embarrassed.
Portia's laugh was a musical tinkling sound. She patted me on the shoulder. "Oh, Peeta, please don't ever take up poker, OK?"
The doctor came back with a stainless steel jar of a thick, foul smelling salve. He spread it over my palms and then wrapped my hands with soft cotton bandages. "Now, these cuts will be healed by morning, but you might want to ask your pretty little girlfriend to go easier on you." His smile was predatory and I felt a little nauseated. Portia was right. These people were freaks.
He held out a card. I reached for it, confused before Portia stopped me.
"Nice," she sneered, knocking the card from his hand. "He's from fucking District 12. They don't do things like we do. Leave him alone, Claudius."
"He'll learn. They always do." With a sly smile, he nodded at me and then sat back down at the computer.
Portia and I walked back to the dining hall in silence. As we got the door, she turned and smiled at me sadly. "Don't let the Capitol change you, love. I've seen it before and you… You and Katniss. You're both better than this hellhole. But, of course… I didn't say that. If I did, the odds were never again be in my favor."
She looked searchingly at my eyes for a moment before she whispered, "Have faith, Peeta. I wasn't lying. I do believe she loves you. She just has to realize it herself."
Then, before I could respond, she opened the door to the dining room and took her seat quickly.
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Just a bit of a fluff chapter. I want people to see what the Capitol is like—and how different it is for these kids from the other Districts. Remember, reviews are love. The last chapter of this particular fic will be the rooftop chat that Katniss and Peeta had the night before the Games… Hope you enjoy!