She had no idea Tyler knew the passcode to their compartment. She was in utter disbelief.
Taiya knew that after not showing up to the afternoon training session the previous day, Johanna would leave her in peace and not wake her up and try to coerce her into going to training.
Amazingly, she'd slept great last night, which was a miracle in itself. The anxiety surrounding Finnick's potential journey to the Capitol had been alleviated now that she thought he'd agreed to stay.
Her precious sleep, however, was rudely interrupted when she was unceremoniously yanked out of bed.
"Get dressed," Tyler commanded, giving her a light nudge towards the bathroom.
"What?" she mumbled, half-conscious and disoriented.
"You're not dodging training Taiya. Come on, get a move on. You've got 5 minutes."
"You're my worst enemy sometimes," she grumbled, resigning herself to the inevitable as she stumbled towards the bathroom to change.
Emerging fully dressed, Taiya was greeted by the sight of Tyler and Finnick engaged in conversation.
"Did you know about this?" she interrogated Finnick, rubbing her eyes tiredly.
"Sorry love," he apologised with a nervous smile.
"You're getting perilously close to being on my list," she warned with a huff.
"Alright, let's go," Tyler announced, positioning himself at the doorway.
"Five more minutes?" she pleaded.
"Not a chance," Tyler shook his head, fully aware that if he let her go back to sleep now, there'd be no getting her back up. "Up we go," he declared, bending down and grabbing her behind the knees, scooping her up so she fell over his shoulder.
"TYLER!" she protested, instantly wide awake. "Put me down!"
"I'm taking you straight to training and signing you in. Like I'm dropping a child off at daycare," he smirked. "Can't trust you, kiddo."
"Finnick!" she pleaded to her husband for some help.
"Love you," he called back casually.
"List! List! You're on the list!" her voice echoed through the hallway. "I can feel you smiling. Stop it," Taiya retaliated by jabbing her knee into Tyler's ribs.
"I'm not smiling," he insisted, but she didn't believe him.
Taiya let out a dramatic sigh, allowing herself to slump down against Tyler's back. At least she was getting a free ride to training.
"Finnick and I aren't even going to the Capitol, so I don't know why you're making me train," she groaned.
"Huh?" Tyler responded in confusion.
"You heard me."
"Right…" As far as Tyler knew, Finnick was 100% planning on going to the Capitol.
"How'd you even get into our compartment? The door was locked."
"Finnick set the passcode before you came. It wasn't hard to guess. He used your birthday. Duh," Tyler snorted, well aware of Finnick's predictability. If Taiya had set it, it would have been some convoluted code she'd be challenging people to try to crack.
"Damn that man," Taiya smiled.
"Can't change it now," Tyler laughed. "Once it's set, it's set."
"I hate mornings," Taiya moaned.
"You never used to," he called her out. "You and I used to be up every morning for training."
"Yeah but then Finnick taught me the beauty of a sleep-in and now I've fallen in love."
"Careful who you say that to, Finnick might get jealous," Tyler teased.
"I stand by it."
"Soldier Silvergaze," Soldier York greeted in confusion, he wasn't scheduled to be in her session. "And Soldier Ambersnow," she sighed when Tyler spun to reveal her actual student.
Taiya just offered a half-hearted wave before Tyler gently lowered her to the ground.
"Soldier Silvergaze, I've already explained to Soldier Ambersnow. There's no point in her attending sessions if she's not going to try."
"She is going to try. Aren't you, Taiya?" Tyler declared, throwing an arm around her shoulder only for her, only for her to instantly shove it off.
"Of course I will. I'm a very hard worker," Taiya crossed her arms.
"And she won't complain," Tyler added.
"Hey, I didn't agree…" Taiya began to complain but cut herself off when she saw Johanna.
Johanna looked awful. She was a sickly green colour and shaking like a leaf.
"I'll stay," Taiya whispered to Tyler, who followed her gaze and took a deep breath as he took in the state of the District 7 victor.
They'd cut her morphling supply off in the hospital. They thought that was why she refused to move out, her constant access to the morphling. And they weren't wrong. Katniss had even raised concerns about the girl's dependency on it. But now she was going through withdrawals and she didn't look good.
"Good luck," Tyler ran a hand down the back of her head. "Who knows, you might even have fun," he grinned before walking away.
"Alright, now that we have everyone," Soldier York positioned herself at the front of the group while Taiya instantly darted to Johanna's side.
"Are you ok?" she whispered.
"I'm a victor," she snarled, trying to convince herself more than anything. "I can survive anything."
"That you can, bestie. That you can."
"Let's go soldiers," Soldier York instructed, leading the procession to the exit for the bunkers.
As soon as the door rolled open, Johanna and Taiya froze.
It was pouring rain outside.
Taiya's hand was instantly grasping Johanna's.
"It's ok, it's ok," she reassured her. "We don't have to go. I can cause a scene and we can both leave."
Johanna's face had turned from green to an ashen grey. It seemed as though she had ceased breathing. Her grip on Taiya's hand was tightening.
Katniss didn't know what Johanna had been tortured with whilst in the Capitol, and she hadn't heard Taiya whispering in Johanna's ear.
"It's just water. It won't kill us," Katniss smiled at them, trying to cheer them both up.
"Jo," Taiya called the girl's attention to her.
Johanna took one shaky breath before she clenched her jaw and stomped out into the mud.
Taiya instantly rushed after her. She was glad Tyler had forced her to be here. She couldn't let Johanna go through this alone.
As soon as the rain hit Johanna, she was shaking even worse.
"I'm here," Taiya promised. "I'm going to be by your side ok. The moment you want to leave, I'll get us out of here."
"I can do this," Johanna put on a brave front.
Taiya didn't try to take her hand again. She knew Johanna would want to appear strong, even though it wasn't a sign of weakness. She knew that's how Johanna would see it.
They got absolutely drenched as they ran through the running course.
Katniss pulled out after one mile again. The doctors had given her ribs some injections the day before to speed up the healing of the wound she'd sustained. It was meant to be extremely painful though, Taiya was impressed she'd even shown up at all.
"Jo," Taiya huffed, out of breath from the run. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine," the girl replied through gritted teeth, but Taiya could read her eyes. She wasn't ok.
"Soggy fish and beet stew?" Taiya complained as she was served her lunch slop. "Seriously? Who comes up with these recipes?" she complained as she, Johanna and Katniss moved to take a seat for lunch.
A tree offered some reprieve from the rain, and Taiya beelined towards it. Katniss went to take a seat in the middle, but Taiya yanked her back, that spot had the most protection from the rain.
"All yours, Joseph," Taiya threw her arm out, offering the spot to Johanna.
"Thanks," Johanna nodded gratefully, sitting down cautiously. Her hands shook violently, a blend of withdrawals and a lingering deep-seated fear of water causing her reaction.
Taiya took a seat beside Johanna, placing her hand on the girl's leg, feigning balance, but giving it a comforting squeeze as she lowered herself down to the ground.
"I'm fine," Johanna promised, looking over at Taiya. She was appreciative of her presence. The girl had been right beside her during the entire session in a way that might have been missed by other people.
"Try to eat a bit," Taiya encouraged. Johanna needed some fuel. Today was going to be rough on her body.
"I'm a victor," Johanna chanted before she shovelled some food in her mouth. "Urgh," she complained. "I will never understand why you freaks like seafood," she gagged.
"Oh shut up," Taiya rolled her eyes, taking a bite of the stew. "Oh, god," she dropped her spoon in disgust. "That's awful," she grimaced. "I tell you what Tanbark, when this is over, I'm going to have Finnick make you some proper District 4 food. You'll love it."
"I had your stupid seaweed bread in the arena," Johanna disputed. "It was crap."
"Don't diss the seaweed bread, Johanna!" Taiya waved her spoon threateningly at her. "What about you, swamp potato? Did you like the seaweed bread?"
"I've had better," Katniss smiled, the smile faltering slightly as she thought of Peeta's bread.
"What do you make bread out of in 7? Sawdust?" Taiya joked, trying to distract both girls.
"Tyler's right, you are a pain in the ass," Johanna rolled her eyes as she continued to force the gross food down her throat.
"I'm going to take that as a compliment," Taiya smirked.
Johanna started to laugh when her face went even paler than it had been before. "Oh god," she groaned, dropping her bowl before rushing into the trees.
Taiya shoved her food bowl into Katniss' hands before she jumped up and sprinted after Johanna.
She hadn't gone far, but she was throwing up everything she'd just tried to eat.
"You're ok, you're ok," Taiya crouched down beside her, rubbing her back gently as her body lurched. "I've got you."
Taiya heard footsteps approaching and turned to see it was Katniss. The girl hadn't been far behind them. Taiya quickly shook her head, urging her to stay back. Johanna wouldn't want an audience.
Katniss understood her role and moved into the path of Soldier York, stopping her from getting too close and bargaining with her to give the girls some privacy.
Once Johanna had finished emptying her stomach she moved backwards and fell against Taiya.
Taiya immediately embraced her friend, who usually would not have tolerated that amount of affection.
"It's ok," Taiya rested her cheek against the top of Johanna's head, doing her best to cover her from the rain with her own body. "Is it the morphing or the rain?"
"Both," Johanna groaned, her body shaking.
"Do you want to go inside? It's ok. I'll go with you. I can play it off like I was the one not well."
"No. I don't want to leave," her voice shook. "Just give me a minute."
In the afternoon, it was time for gun assembly lessons.
Taiya had never handled a firearm before. They weren't used in the arena, so there was never a reason to train on them before. Learning a new skill was challenging, and the rain made it even more difficult, as the equipment became slippery.
Soldier York didn't care. She continued yelling at her students and barking commands.
Katniss took to it immediately, she assembled her gun faster than anyone. Taiya wasn't too far behind. But Johanna was a mile behind, she was struggling. She hadn't recovered fully from her lunchtime incident. Her hands were still shaking violently. She couldn't hold them steady enough to fit the parts together.
"You need to get faster, Soldier Ambersnow," Soldier York inspected Taiya's compiled gun.
Taiya's eyes shifted over to Johanna's gun, as had Katniss'. Johanna had made no progress, and looking at her state, she wouldn't handle criticism from Soldier York well right now.
So Taiya was going to provide a distraction.
She huffed loudly, stood up from the ground and walked around to the other side of Soldier York, forcing her to turn away from Katniss and Johanna.
"Can't you just say, 'Well done on your first try, Soldier Ambersnow?'" Taiya crossed her arms in frustration.
Katniss had understood what to do, thankfully. As soon as Soldier York turned away, she'd moved toward Johanna and was helping her put her gun together.
"Watch your tone, Soldier Ambersnow," York cautioned. "I don't want to have to write you up. You have enough marks next to your name."
"Oh please. Write me up. I don't care," Taiya snorted. "I'm not going to the Capitol. I don't need to impress anyone. Oh, I'm sorry," Taiya shook her head while facepalming. "I don't need to impress anyone, Soldier York," she mocked.
"I don't understand your attitude Taiya," Solider York sighed.
"Don't think about it too much," Taiya just shrugged. "According to Tyler, you just get headaches."
"If you applied yourself you could excel in this program. You could be vital to the rebellion. And yet you insist on misbehaving and creating a spectacle of yourself. It's a waste."
Taiya went to retort when Katniss shot her a quick thumbs-up. Johanna's gun was completed. "Meh, you're probably right," Taiya shrugged. "I'll reflect on that," she walked back to her spot and took a seat.
"I'll be writing you up, Soldier Ambersnow," Soldier York snarked. Taiya just shot her a wink, not caring too much.
"Thank you," Johanna whispered.
"That was fun," Taiya smiled.
"Tyler's going to kill you."
The rest of the afternoon was spent on the shooting range. Katniss got the best scores in the class. Show off.
Taiya had to deal with another lecture from Soldier York. Once she adjusted to the feeling of the gun, she was able to make her shots perfectly. She wasn't one to miss.
But as soon as she realised she could use a gun well enough, she started shooting other people's targets, causing a chorus of complaints from the younger teenagers who were having their targets shot at.
"Behave," Katniss smiled at her, enjoying the show, but not enjoying the lectures from York that would follow.
"Not in my nature," Taiya just winked before she shot one of Katniss' targets.
By some miraculous stroke of luck, they made it through the week of training. Katniss' ribs felt almost back to brand new by the end, and her stamina for the runs had improved dramatically, she could conquer the entire five-mile run alongside Taiya and Johanna.
Johanna, too, achieved a significant milestone. She was able to successfully assemble her rifle all by herself at the end of the week, with no more need for Taiya to cause a scene to allow Katniss to slide in and help her.
The final training session had become a turning point in Soldier York's respect for Taiya. The leader had heard about the girl's skills with a knife, but witnessing it firsthand was an entirely different experience.
Taiya did not miss.
The knives session was the only one Taiya did not muck around on. She took it fully seriously, showcasing a level of expertise that hadn't waned, despite months of disuse.
Taiya was even more deadly and accurate with her knives than she had been on the day she won her Games. She even dared to show off further by throwing them with her eyes closed and hitting the target dead centre each time.
That'd impressed lots of the students until York noticed the spectacle and shut it down. Taiya wouldn't miss her shot, but that didn't mean some kid wouldn't naively walk into the path of the knife when Taiya's eyes were closed.
"Fine job, Soldiers," York gave the trio an impressed nod as they finished for the day.
"Damn right," Taiya declared, holding her hand up for York to high-five, but the woman simply walked away. "Rude."
"I think winning the Games was easier," Johanna muttered as they strolled away and back into District 13. It only took one look at her face though to know she was pleased by the compliment.
They were walking into the dining hall when Taiya let out a low groan. Gale was waiting with Finnick. Gale was waiting for Katniss. Finnick was waiting for Taiya. Could Gale not go away for like, 30 minutes?
"Ew, Dale," Taiya mumbled for Katniss and Johanna's amusement before she sprinted forward and leapt into Finnick's arms. "Hi," she greeted him with a smile, sealing it with a kiss as he lowered her down to the ground, his hand instantly slipping into hers.
"Hi there," he smiled down at her, kissing her again.
"We got a shipment in today from Ten - proper beef, so the stew should be a treat," Finnick informed Taiya, guiding her over to the table where Delly and Annie awaited.
"Hey Annie boo," Taiya waved at her friend before taking a seat and giving the unappealing stew on her plate a disapproving look. "Presentation skills are lacking."
Finnick immediately defended his serving skills. "Look, I can make a killer seaweed stew and I can give it a five-star presentation, but this… this is a challenge."
Taiya chuckled, playfully poking at the unappetising meal. "You should give the cooks some pointers Finnick. Add a splash of District 4 tips."
Finnick smirked, rubbing his thumb up and down her hand. "I could call it, Cooking with Finnick: Turning Sloppy Stew into a Stunning Extravaganza."
Katniss joined in the laughter as she sat down. "Turn it into a TV show, and I can see everyone in Panem tuning in."
Finnick raised an eyebrow. "You think President Snow would be a fan?"
Taiya gasped excitedly. "Oh, he'd love it! You could have Katniss here as a guest star. Have a special episode on cooking squirrels and swamp potatoes into a gourmet feast!"
Katniss feigned offence. "Swamp potato again!"
"Always," Taiya winked. "I'd watch your show babe," she said, smiling up at him. "You've got your number one fan right here," she pointed to herself.
"Why, thank you, honey," he smirked and kissed her.
"Hey, at least this is an improvement on the seafood stew from earlier this week," Johanna grumbled. "Not even Taiya liked that."
"I thought maybe it was just soggy because we were sitting outside, but nope. It was just made soggy. Like a soggy, cardboard casserole," Taiya lamented.
"I reckon if you promoted it, you could get it to catch on in the Capitol," Finnick winked.
"Oh really?" Taiya had to chuckle. "Turning Capitol citizens into fans of tasteless mush? Be for real."
"You're up for a challenge."
"Make it a dare and she'll do it," Johanna interjected.
"No more dares," Finnick laughed, cutting Johanna off before she could issue the challenge. Taiya couldn't resist a dare put to her by Johanna.
Taiya couldn't help but join Finnick's infectious laugh. Taiya noticed the looks Katniss was giving casting their way though. They'd been happy since their reunion, but Katniss hadn't witnessed the couple's interactions until she'd returned from District 2, it struck her the first time she saw them, and it still struck her now. While Johanna was accustomed to their affection and had always known them as a couple, Katniss hadn't understood their bond until a few months after knowing them.
In each other's presence, Taiya and Finnick seemed to come alive. The personas they had worn in the Capitol and Games were shed, revealing their genuine selves.
Finnick, once burdened with a heartthrob image, now radiated authenticity, as his adoration for this one woman was on full display. That was the real Finnick. His self-effacing humour and easygoing nature were on full display to everyone for the first time.
However, Katniss sensed that Taiya was still grappling with her own struggles. The effects of Capitol torture lingered, evident in Taiya's post-training rush to Finnick each day, who acted as her anchor, pulling her back from the precipice of distress. Yet, in District 13, Taiya had also been able to shed her Capitolite mask, exposing her true District 4 identity. Katniss did find it challenging to discern the authenticity of Taiya's humour though - whether it was a genuine reflection of her personality or a coping mechanism. Charismatic and resilient, Taiya revealed a playful and sarcastic side, but beneath the surface, Katniss detected underlying fears and concerns. The Capitol's hold on Taiya was so profound that, without Finnick nearby, panic often threatened to consume her.
Observing Taiya and Finnick together was a sight to behold. The couple, entwined in an unbreakable bond, navigated their days hand in hand, whispering sweet nothings, stealing kisses, not caring who was watching. Nearly nine years into their relationship, they remained captivated by each other, enveloped in a lavender haze. As the days drew to a close, Katniss noticed Taiya's eyes drifting. Muttering to herself, Taiya would retreat into her thoughts, Katniss had never asked her mother about Taiya's counselling, but the more she observed the girl, the more she understood the girl's need for her sessions. But the moment she reunited with Finnick, she snapped back from the brink.
In Katniss' eyes, Taiya's stature only grew, especially as Haymitch shared tidbits of Peeta's revelations about their hangout sessions. Exhausted by the end of training, Johanna occasionally missed their trauma bro gatherings, but Taiya was a constant presence. She never divulged anything that was said during the trauma bros time to Katniss, no matter what she asked - 'What happens during trauma bros sessions stays between the trauma bros.' Katniss knew she would tell others. Finnick, Tyler. So this statement wasn't necessarily true. She was just protecting Katniss from the pain of Peeta's distorted thoughts, further showcasing her loyalty to those she cared about.
According to Haymitch, each time Peeta launched into a tirade about Katniss, Taiya intervened, attributing his negative perceptions to the Capitol's torture. Taiya wielded significant influence over Peeta, he trusted her above anyone else. She stood by him in the arena, in the Capitol, and now in District 13, whereas he'd felt abandoned by Haymitch. They knew each other on a level maybe no one else did, seeing as neither would fully open up about everything that happened to them in the Capitol. Katniss appreciated Taiya defending her to Peeta, and she felt grateful for the friendship the two girls had been able to foster over the past few weeks.
"Oh hey!" Taiya interrupted Katniss' train of thought. "This stew isn't too bad," she remarked, nodding at her bowl. "I mean it's no Finnick special, but it's good."
"I like it," Katniss agreed instantly, not looking up from her plate.
"You know what the colour of this stew reminds me of?" Finnick asked Taiya.
"What?"
"The hat that that turtle stole."
"Oh my god, let it go!" Taiya cackled, making Katniss look up.
"Wait… what?" Katniss frowned.
"It didn't happen, don't listen to him," Taiya tried to get ahead of his story, but he quickly clasped a hand over her mouth, silencing her.
"It was a warm summer day," he dramatically began. "We were on the edge of our dock, and Taiya went inside to get some water, and my hat blew off my head. Now…" he removed his hand from Taiya's mouth. "Some of you," he looked at her, "may find this hard to believe. But it is 1000% true." Taiya just shook her head at the table, pleading with them not to believe it. "But this massive, and wise, sea turtle just swam up and grabbed the hat and swam away before I could even dive in. Poof! Gone!" Finnick gestured dramatically, his eyes sparkling.
Taiya just scoffed, she'd heard this story told a million times and hadn't believed it once. "Oh come on, Finn! A sea turtle stealing your hat! What's next, dolphins organising a fashion show?"
Finnick shot her a mockingly serious look. "I wouldn't put it past them," he declared and she just rolled her eyes. "But it's true. I promise. Those sea turtles have a refined taste."
Katniss and Johanna exchanged amused glances, not wanting to interrupt the couple's banter.
"Wait, wait," Taiya laughed, grabbing onto his arm, and shaking her head in disbelief. "Are you trying to convince them that sea turtles appreciate fashion accessories?"
"Absolutely," Finnick leaned back, outraged she still wouldn't believe him. "My hat was stunning, and don't you deny it. Of course, they wanted it."
"Finn, that hat was awful. Buck got it for his birthday, Buck has no fashion sense," Taiya explained to the group who were listening.
"It was great!"
"Finnick's fashion sense comes from me. If he chose it himself, it's rubbish."
Laughter erupted at the table, a welcome sound after the gruelling week everyone had just endured. Even Johanna was chuckling.
"Whatever. Doubt me all you want. But we all know I'd still win the underwater fashion show," he winked at Taiya.
"Oh good lord," Taiya dropped her head in despair.
Laughter filled the air until an excited squeal broke through, catching everyone off guard. It was Taiya's unmistakable squeal.
"PEETA!" she screeched, leaping up from the table and embracing the boy standing behind her.
Katniss couldn't stifle the involuntary sound that escaped her throat as she momentarily choked on her bread.
"Hey Taiya," Peeta replied stiffly, his eyes scanning the table. He couldn't hug her back, his hands were holding his tray at his fingertips, his wrist still shackled together with a short chain.
"Peeta," Delly said nervously, clearly caught off guard by his unexpected presence. "It's so nice to see you out… and about."
Two imposing guards loomed behind him, watching the interaction, a constant reminder that he was not free yet.
"What's with the fancy bracelets?" Johanna asked, nodding towards the shackles.
"I'm not quite trustworthy yet," Peeta explained.
"I trust you more than anyone, bread boy," Taiya reassured, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey!" Finnick immediately protested.
"Hush," she teased, not looking as she flung a finger back and laid it against his lips.
"I can't even sit here without your permission," Peeta indicated his head back to his guards.
"Oh my god yes!" Taiya excitedly bounced on her feet. "Of course, you can!" she agreed before cautiously turning back to the group. She couldn't speak for everyone, but Johanna quickly declared her support.
"Sure he can sit here. We're old friends," Johanna moved down a seat, making room for Peeta to sit between her and Taiya.
The guards nodded and Peeta took a seat.
"Peeta had an adjoining cell with Tay in the Capitol, two down from me. We're all very familiar with each other's screams," Johanna bluntly stated, catching everyone off guard.
Taiya's eyes widened, stumbling as she returned to her seat, her head automatically replaying the sounds she heard in the Capitol as a flood of memories she was trying to repress flooded her mind. She froze, and Finnick shot Johanna an angry look as he wrapped his arms around her and slowly helped her back down.
Annie, too, had reacted poorly, she may not have been tortured, but she heard the screams, her hands slapping over her ears as she retreated from reality. Delly immediately jumped to help her, rubbing her hand and whispering reassuring words. Delly had been put in a group with Annie and Mags, which was basically just therapy. She wasn't doing so well after watching the slaughter of District 12. So she'd developed an understanding of how to help Annie.
"What?" Johanna asked, feigning innocence and only feeling a hint of remorse. "My head doctor says I'm not supposed to censor my thoughts. It's part of my therapy."
Taiya took a deep breath, attempting to push back the haunting echoes of the Capitol that resurfaced at Johanna's words. The sounds of screams lingered.
"You're safe now, Tay," Finnick whispered in her ear. Repeating the phrases he'd say to her at night when she awoke from a nightmare. "We're all here. I'm here. No one is going to hurt you. Focus on the present," he murmured, his voice a soothing balm against the painful memories.
Taiya took a last deep breath and nodded at him, feeling Finnick's hand in hers, grounding her. She glanced across at Peeta, who she could feel watching her with concern and shot him a quick nod.
"I'm fine," she promised him.
"Are you sure you're ok?" Peeta asked.
"I'm fine," she assured him before looking at Annie, still in need of support.
"Annie, honey," Taiya reached across with her spare hand to squeeze Annie's hand. It took a few moments, but she felt Annie return the gesture, slowly emerging from her disorientation. Taiya would never abandon Annie. Shark died keeping her alive and she was the last living relative of Theo's. She'd always keep Annie close, and she'd do it for Theo and Shark.
"Annie," Delly brightly broke the silent tension that had befallen the table. "Did you know it was Peeta who decorated Taiya and Finnick's engagement cake? Back home, his family ran the bakery and did all the icing."
Annie looked up at Taiya and Finnick who nodded in confirmation. "Wow, Peeta, it was beautiful."
"Thank you, Annie," Peeta smiled at her. It sounded like the old Peeta, the one that Taiya was able to break through to almost every time she visited him. He had a gentleness to his voice. She was glad he was able to direct that gentleness to Annie as well.
Finnick, still seething in anger at Johanna's comment, turned to Taiya. "If we're going to fit in that walk, we better go." He efficiently arranged both of their trays so he could carry them with one hand, and stood up from the table.
Taiya moved to follow but halted halfway up to kiss Peeta on the top of the head. "I'll see you later, pita bread," she smiled at him before standing up and clasping back onto Finnick's hand.
"Good seeing you Peeta," Finnick nodded.
"You be nice to her, Finnick," Peeta said, his tone cold and harsh, instantly making Taiya halt in confusion. "Or I might try and take her away from you."
What the hell was that?
The unexpected remark hung in the air, casting a shadow on the whole table. As soon as Taiya started to leave his mood seemed to switch. Everything about his sentence felt wrong - his open distrust of Finnick, the implication Peeta had his eye on Taiya, that Taiya would leave Finnick, and that Katniss did not exist. Everyone knew Taiya had taken him on as a little brother of sorts, so his comment was completely out of left field and belittling given he knew they'd just gotten married after years of living in secret.
"Oh, Peeta," Finnick said lightly. "Don't make me sorry I restarted your heart," he quickly led Taiya away, both of them shooting concerned glances at Katniss.
Even Taiya seemed taken aback by Peeta's remark, which added to Katniss' concern. Delly reprimanded him as soon as they were both out of sight. "He did save your life, Peeta. More than once. They both did."
"He saved me for her," Peeta nodded his head at Katniss. "For the rebellion. Not for me. I don't owe him anything."
Unable to resist, Katniss snapped back. "Maybe you don't owe him anything, sure. But you owe Taiya plenty. That should count for something. Don't drag her into your attacks on me."
"Yeah, a lot of things should count for something that don't seem to, Katniss. I've got some memories I can't make sense of, and I don't think the Capitol touched them. A lot of nights on the train, for instance."
His implications about the train nights stirred tension, implying more than what had actually happened. Those moments of solace and comfort were now twisted in Peeta's mind as misuse on Katniss' part.
"So are you two officially a couple?" Peeta asked, gesturing with his spoon to Katniss and Gale. "Or are they still dragging out the star-crossed lover things?"
"Still dragging," Johanna answered
Peeta's hands spasmed for a moment and he immediately tightened them into fists, a tactic Taiya had taught him to control his rage.'Tighten, and release,' she would preach.
"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it myself," Gale simply said.
"What's that?" Peeta asked through gritted teeth.
"You."
"You'll have to be a little more specific. What about me?"
"That they've replaced you with the evil-mutt version of yourself," Johanna bluntly answered, not one to sugarcoat things, even for Peeta.
"You done?" Gale asks Katniss. She didn't respond; she just got up and walked away.
"You need to apologise to them all," Delly immediately demanded of Peeta.
"Why should I?" Peeta argued back.
"After everything Taiya has done for you, she didn't deserve to be disrespected like that."
"Oh please," Peeta dismissed. "She won't care. I didn't even mean it. I just wanted to upset Finnick and Katniss."
"You think upsetting Finnick is fair on her? She loves him, Peeta, you upsetting him upsets her. That was cruel of you."
"Fine, whatever. I'll apologise," he threw his spoon down. "I didn't mean to upset her."
"And what you said to Katniss, that was completely uncalled for and unnecessary," Delly's voice grew high-pitched and squeaky. "You don't get to treat people like that!"
That finally set Peeta off. He started arguing with himself, caught in a battle between his authentic self and his Capitol-tortured counterpart. Arguing with himself about his behaviour, and then defending it to himself.
Not even Delly could calm him down from this. No one was willing to go and get Taiya after what he'd just said.
So the guards had to drag him away. With all the commotion, no one saw Johanna sneaking the last of his stew.