* The Kiss *
Several days after the lockdown has been let up, Peeta finally convinced me to have a doctor look at my ankle.
"Katniss, please!" He exasperates, "your bruise is bad and you clearly can't walk! Please just get It looked at or I'm calling your mother!"
Damn he's good.
"Fine! Fine! Fine! I'll go!"
It's broken It turns out. They wrap It and give me crutches but I hate using them and try to get around without them. Peeta doesn't like when I do that and swoops me up every time he catches me doing that which makes me want to do It more. After a day of him constantly grabbing me, he decides to just stay at my house until I'm healed. I don't protest.
He's been extremely helpful. Which I do appreciate.
"Good morning," he says when I open my eyes. I smile at him and he says, "here do you need me to..."
"Yeah..." I say with a shy smile. He picks me up and brings me to the bathroom. When I'm done I crawl to the sink to wash my hands. Then I crawl my way up to the sink and call Peeta. He slowly walks in and sees me on the sink which makes him smile.
Normally I hate needing help, but with Peeta I kind of like it. He flashes me a brilliant smile and I match It. He brings me to the kitchen and sets me on the counter. "So what do you want for breakfast?"
I give him a devious smile to which he says, "cheese buns?"
I laugh and say, "yes of course."
I expect him to reach for ingredients but instead he catches me by surprise when he turns around against the counter and puts his arms behind him implying that I get on for a piggy back ride.
I crawl onto his back and he starts to run to the table. But right as he is about to hit it, he turns and runs to the couch, throwing us both onto the couch. We are a tangle of limbs and laughter.
"I didn't land on your ankle did I?" He asks worriedly.
"No, no," I say and put my forehead to his. I place my finger to his lips and trace them. He has very soft thin lips. My thumb slightly parts his lip as I pull down the middle, moving down to his chin. He takes this chance to lean forward and press his lips to mine. His lips are soft and warm, unlike my own that are cracked. His move fast and gracefully, leaving my lips to go to my neck. I lean my head back and let his lips ghost over my ear and down my jawline back to my neck.
Then he moves back to my face and kisses every inch of it. I lean forward and lock his lips with mine again. He wraps his arms around me and I move so that I'm more on him so he doesn't fall off the couch. His hands tangle in my hair as I kiss him deeper. This is deeper than the kiss on the beach. More passionate. His tongue peaks into my mouth, playing with my own as his hands slide down my back, eventually settling on my lower back. He sits up, which allows for me to fully wrap my arms around his neck; one hand going into his locks while the other grips the back of his shirt.
I'm definitely not the first to pull away, but I am a bit thankful because I was losing air. His eyes bore into mine, and I'm tempted to kiss him again but I don't. Instead we stare at each other's beautiful features.
"Katniss..." He says breathily.
I run my fingers through his hair and say, "Peeta..."
He closes his eyes and then takes a deep breath. When he opens them he asks,"this isn't for the cameras?"
"There's no more cameras, Peeta, just me and you. This is all real," I confirm.
As if to express his delight, he attacks my lips yet again. I lightly moan as his tongue slips into my mouth. He lightly bites my lip. Sadly my stomach growls right as it gets more heated and he pulls away saying, "guess I should make breakfast."
"Okay," I say out of breath. He gives me a huge smile before kissing my forehead. Peeta walks into the kitchen but stops to turn around and look at me once more. When he's out of my sight, I let out a huge breath. I can't believe that just happened. I've been waiting for a while for him to kiss me like that. Honestly since the quell. It's like a fire burning inside me that doesn't get satiated. Soon Peeta comes out with freshly baked cheese buns.
My face lights up and so does his. He sits right next to me and wraps his arm around my shoulder. "Your cheese buns m'lady," he says happily.
"Thank you," I say. When we are finished eating he brings me up to charge and then changes himself. He sets me down on the couch and then gives me a sad smile.
"I have to go to the hob and trade for some spices and herbs, do you have any furs I could trade?"
"Ummm...I don't know? Let me check will you bring me to the cabinet?" I ask. He turns so that he gives me a piggy back ride. When he gets me to the cabinet, I pull out a few furs.
"Do you want to come with me?" He asks.
"But Peeta, I can't walk and the crutches they gave me hurt...plus with your leg, I wouldn't want you to carry me that far. Won't it hurt it carrying me there and back? I don't want to hurt you," I say sheepishly.
"Katniss, I carry pounds and pounds of flour. Or at least I do sometimes, now. You weigh nothing, don't worry," he says and scoots me up on his back so that I don't slip off, "I'm a big boy, I can handle It." He states with confidence.
I'm not convinced but the thought of me staying this close to him gives me butterflies. "Okay, but only if you let me take care of your leg tonight." Every night he puts on an ointment on his leg to help with chafing and soreness. He gets really shy about doing It in front of me but he doesn't need to be.
"Katniss-" he begins to protest but I stop him.
"If you help me, let me return the favor."
"Deal."
He hands me a bag with bread and the furs are in my other hand. I notice his brilliant smile and I ask, "what are you so happy about?"
"Well, it's such a beautiful day. I have a beautiful person on my back-"
"I'm not beautiful-"
"Who says I was talking about you?" He says and I bust up laughing. I lay my head down on his shoulder and close my eyes. I feel him chuckle and he says, "but you really are beautiful, no matter what anyone (including yourself) thinks."
I decide not to comment but I do put my face in the crook of his neck and breath in his beautiful but masculine scent. I press a soft kiss to his shoulder and rest my head. After a few minutes he nudges my head with his and says, "we're here"
"Where to first?" He asks as we walk by the various tables. I catch Greasy Sae at her usual spot, I'm glad to see she's doing better. Her granddaughter is helping her. Since she's been sick she hasn't been around and I told her that Peeta takes care of me the last time I called to check in.
"How about Greasy Sae? We could trade some fur to her. And say hello of course."
"Of course," Peeta says and walks us over to her booth.
"Oh hello boy," she says sweetly, "oh and It looks like you have a tag along. Happy to see the two of you." Her smile is soft and genuine. She will always be one of the best people I know.
"Hello Sae, are you feeling any better?" Peeta politely asks.
"Oh most definitely. Thank you, dear," she says.
I smile at how amazing he is, always so nice and thoughtful. We trade and get some spices from her. Then we go to Robbie who has herbs and some other supplies that we need. Robbie is a shorter man with dark auburn hair and covered in so many freckles you'd think he was tanner than he actually is. He's about the age my dad would have been and I wonder if he knew him. He's a nice man, funny and kind, always trying to put a smile on peoples face by being a little goofy.
"Hey, hey, hey, guys!" He says in a cheery tone, "oh boy is It my turn for the Peeta lift service?" He winks and pats his arm. I giggle at this and Peeta plays along.
"Yeah man, I saved the extra long service just for you." They continue to joke for a bit before exchanging the items we came for and saying goodbye.
I notice people staring at us, but I couldn't care less. People stare no matter where I go, it's something I'll probably have to be used to for a long time. Until the legend of the mockingjay fades into history context. It's weird to think that kids will be learning about us in school. Taking quizzes on what happened. I hope they do a good job at remembering Finnick as the hero he was. In the quell I thought about creating a world where Peeta's kids could be safe, but I can't get the thought out of my head that if he stays with me he won't have kids to fulfill that. Guilt hits me in the chest like a brick. Im selfish. I want Peeta, but I don't want kids. I know he wants kids and I think he wants me too but I know as long as he's with me he can't have both.
"You're quiet," he notes, breaking me away from my deep spiraling thoughts.
"Just thinking."
"Am I allowed to be In the loop?"
"Huh? Yeah.. oh I was just thinking about how kids will learn about us in history books one day."
"Yeah, It's weird. Like our lives were never ours. I just hope they paint everyone we lost as heroic figures." I can't help but smile at how similarly we think.
Soon we are home and he lays me down on the couch. "I need to go back to my house for more clothes. But I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Okay, I'll see you soon," I say.
He steps out but I hear the door open momentarily after. Instead a different blonde walks in: Haymitch.
"Hello sweetheart," he says and sits In a chair across from me. "What did you do to the boy? Hump him till he went cross eyed? I've never seen him so happy!" Haymitch, ever so crass.
"NO! We haven't had sex, Haymitch." I say blushing and frustrated, "I've only kissed him."
"Ohhh, that makes more sense. I should've guessed that you're leading him on." He sighs but It doesn't seem to have any weight behind It, almost as if he's mocking me or trying to get me riled up.
"No I'm not, Haymitch," I try to say as calmly as possible. I know he's trying to get a rise out of me and he's very close to succeeding.
"So you love him," he poses this as a statement not a question. I'm at a loss for words because I don't know if I love him. I know I like him a lot, I know I care for him. Is that love? Finnick once told me that I loved him and maybe didn't even realize It myself. It seems like everyone knows how I feel before I do.
I didn't even realize that I said all that out loud until Haymitch says, "I can't call it, that's up to you," then he gets up and leaves.
As he's walking out I yell,"Damn you Haymitch and your wisdom!"
"Anytime, sweetheart!" Even now that he doesn't need to mentor me he still does.
Peeta walks in with a smile and a bag on clothes. He sets the clothes down and comes to lay with me. Then a thought occurs to me, something I should've asked a bit ago and I just blurt It out.
"Do you want to move in?"
