01. vid

[howherolls]

[ the video feed flickers on, and a young man sits at a desk. On it, there's a paintbrush, a small canvas and a set of watercolors. None of them have been touched, but the young man's fingers keep flexing around the brush. ]

I'm...not sure why I'm here. [ he slowly clears his throat, staring not at the feed but at the brush ] My only guess is they saw something they liked on the footage. [ a finger twitches against the brush ] But...I am pretty sure I have other ideas this time.

[ he looks up ]

That person you saw in the Games and the interviews wasn't me. Not the me that I remember, anyway. So if that's what you were expecting, I apologize. I'm not here to fight. You don't want me fighting.

[ there's the sound of a sharp crack as the paintbrush snaps in half. It begins to reform itself ]

My name's Peeta Mellark, and I'm going to sit this one out.

Comments

[effective]

[She comes to a stop, and then leans against a wall. Her eyes close as she tries to make sense of...the world. And also what she was doing last time she saw him]

Both. Time makes even less sense here. You spoke to Finnick?

[howherolls]

Yes.

Katniss, I-

I think I said something wrong.

[ he shakes his head. this is near overwhelming ]

[effective]

[Her eyes snap open and she pushes herself off the wall. Her pace is a little quicker] What did you say?

Finnick's a big boy, whatever it was, he'll get over it.

[howherolls]

[ Peeta shakes his head ] He's real. I...I know he's real.

[ he looks at the feed, something's just dawned on him ]

You've missed me.

[effective]

Finnick? [A beat] He already knows about what happened in the sewers.

[Totally not blushing nope why would you think that]</small. That's what I said.

[howherolls]

It's not about the sewers.

[ the disjointed sense of time is starting to play with Peeta, spinning his memories all over again, so he takes a breath and tries to ignore the feeling of warning that's hitting him hard ]

I would've missed you too.

⇁ action

[effective]

What - hold on, I'm almost there. I'm going to turn this off now. [She taps the screen, just so he doesn't freak out if she disappears or something. A moment later she's knocking on his door]

Re: ⇁ action

[howherolls]

[ Peeta sets the paintbrush down, slowly walking to the door. He's barefoot, so the prosthetic makes an echoing noise against the floor. There's only a slight pause before he opens the door.

he sees Katniss and stares, swallowing.]

You run fast.

[effective]

[The door opens, and she's not prepared for that, doesn't know how she could prepare to see him again after it's been a month. Belatedly she realises that she left her bow and arrow behind, but maybe that's better. Probably the last thing he needs is to see her coming at him in a strange place with a weapon.

She drinks in the sight of him before she remembers that he actually said something.] I wanted to see you. [Her hand reaches out, towards his cheek, and then pauses.] Can I...? [Touch you to make sure you're real :'|]

[howherolls]

[ his hand snaps up and grabs her wrist. It's not a friendly gesture, and his knuckles start to go white from the strain. Peeta looks at his hand and her arm in a detached manner ]


[ gradually his grip relaxes, and he looks at her apologetically ]

[effective]

[She sucks in a breath, a wave of fear washing over her. It was stupid to come along the first time, without anything to defend herself with. She struggles to keep her voice level] Peeta. You're hurting me.

[He lets go and she tugs her hand back to her chest, rubbing her wrist] I guess that answers whether or not you really are here. [:'|]

[howherolls]

Sorry.

[ he stares ]

I thought you were going for my neck.

[effective]

Cheek. But I know. That's why I asked.

[It hurts, not being able to touch him, not being able to take comfort in his presence like she used to be able to] Can I come in?

[howherolls]

[ he nods, and with slight hesitance he steps to the side to give her enough room to walk in ]

Are you sure you want to?

[effective]

[Trust has to start somewhere. And no one has ever accused Katniss of being smart] Yes. [And she walks in, her body just barely brushing his]

I can explained what's been happening. If you want.

[howherolls]

[ he closes the door slowly, and it makes a loud echo through the room. Peeta turns to face her, swallowing hard ]

I...understand the situation. It's every thing else... [ he shakes his head ] There's too many different answers to things.

[effective]

[She runs a hand back through her hair. It's loose, for once. She's been growing it back in.] So ask, Peeta. You know how it goes.

The time thing, at least - that's not you. It's real. Apparently the people here know how to travel through it, so when they drag people from their homes, they're taking them from different times as well as different places. That's why Finnick - why Finnick is here, and why he doesn't know. Or...didn't. [She falls silent and just. Stands there, taking in the sight of him. He's really here, but like an idiot she'd built up this reunion in her head, ignored the realities of their situation. She was paying for it now, wanting to reach out to him so badly and not being able to.]

[howherolls]

[ he's not sure why he does it, but Peeta grabs one of her hands in his, holding it. There isn't a reason to do this, like there's a reason to do everything else, he just knows that it's what he wants at the moment. Her hands are rough and calloused and covered in scars. Her fingers itch between his. But he wants this, he thinks ]

I wonder if someone else will come, and be surprised we're here.

[effective]

[She flinches slightly when he reaches for her, but Katniss' survival skills are all out of whack when it comes to Peeta. And then it turns out that he's hold her hand, and she ducks her head, hiding a smile. Gently, carefully, she squeezes it back.]

Maybe. [And then the memory of Prim hits her again and she draws in a sharp breath] I don't know if I want that or not. [And then looking up at him again, it's sort of like pingpong] I'm glad you're here, though.

[howherolls]

[ Peeta swallows. This feels normal. And foreign. The pieces sometimes add up, and sometimes they don't. Right now it's somewhere in between and the frustration settles in because he thought there was something changing about that.

his hands have burn scars on them too.

Real. ]

I'm not. [ it's whispered ]


They want me to fight for them. Like thirteen wanted me to fight for them.

[effective]

I know. [Her smile turns self-deprecating. She knows, but she's glad anyway, because she missed him and wants him around. Selfish as ever.

Her breath shudders as she draws it in, and she wants to touch his cheek but it's too close to his throat, so she lifts her other hand and places it on his chest instead, over his heart] I won't let make you. All right? You won't have to do anything. [She wonders if he remembers her promise not to kill any more]

[howherolls]

[ his mouth feels dry. the hand holding hers clenches for a moment, then relaxes ]

We were supposed to be done. Real or not real?

[effective]

Real. [She can't help the way her hand grips his back. She forces it to relax, keeping her palm flat on his chest] That's what I said when I got here. We were supposed to be done.

[howherolls]

Then Katniss...

[ he hears the pleading in his voice. It doesn't surprise him much. ]

Let's be done. Both of us.

[ because he does remember the promise. And he doesn't know if she can go through with it ]

[effective]

I want to be. [Desperation enters her tone] I want to be, Peeta. [She can't help herself, moving closer until her forehead rests on his chest, next to her hand. She can feel his heart thrumming]

I can't let them hurt you.