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The fight or flight instinct still hadn't slipped out of Katniss's damaged mind.

She knew, factually they were in District 13. Even though they didn't even know it exsisted up until a few days ago.

Well, some of them.

Her family was here. Peeta was here. Gale was here. Katniss? She was pretty sure half the time she was actually still back in the arena. She had nightmares, she'd always had nightmares, but none has seemed to follow her into reality quite the same way.

Today was one of those days. She was completely still, breathing heavy, staring at the door, certain that what was going to come through wasn't going to be some District 13 medic. Sure the empty room was about to fill up with Capitol peacekeepers, or...worse. There was always worse.

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But those people were what worried Katniss the most. Still, she didn't want to say that to Peeta. He had lost his people, his family and friends.

And somehow, if she didn't speak it, she hoped no one would hear.

Instead, she simply repeated, "Together."

And kissed him again.

It came as reassurance to him now, knowing that Katniss wouldn't abandon him and he believed her. They had made it this far together and they'd keep going. He'd go until this was all over or he died, but as long as he was with her...

Nothing else mattered.

He returned the kiss softly, hand finding its way through her hair again and he was happy in this moment. Safe with her and happy and hopeful.

Despite her previous thought she wouldn't sleep much tonight, Peeta's hand in her hair, his weight resting against her, comforting. Pressing her lips mindlessly against his skin, she pressed deeper into his warmth, starting to feel sleep crowding around the edges.

He could feel her slipping into that comfortable state and he smiled against her lips until he couldn't keep up with the kisses anymore, nosing at her cheek. "Maybe it's time to give in."

She chuckled, nodding against his shoulder.

"Yeah, I think I'm done for."

No matter what that meant for tomorrow.

"It is pretty late," he agreed. They'd held off as long as they could but a good rest was important right now. At least they had the chance to get one, even if they didn't feel completely safe down here.

Peeta slid off of her but remained close by her side, laying his head down again as he relaxed with a sigh. One arm slipped naturally around her waist, watching her. "No nightmares tonight."

She snorted. "I'll do my best."

Tucking herself into his side, her hand found his, lacing their finger together again. He was warm, and solid. This was the only place she had felt safe in a long time.

Maybe ever.

Fingers brushed against the ends of her hair again with he hand not holding onto hers. His own eyes were feeling heavy with much needed sleep now, no longer trying to stay up anymore. This had been an amazing night compared to where they started in the morning.

"Good night, Katniss," he murmured quietly.

There was a steady beeping.

Katniss tried to ignore it, tried to burrow into the warm (happiness) body next to her, but the beeping wasn't stopping.

Groaning, she butted her head against Peeta.

The annoying sound was quickly waking Peeta up too, an annoyed sigh escaping him because this was the best sleep he had gotten in ages and someone was trying to ruin it. Or something, more like.

His eyes opened tiredly but found themselves staring at a mess of dark hair rather than a wall or alarm clock..He was quick to remember where he was and with whom, and it was that warm, happy feeling that allowed him to ignore the beeping for a little while longer and rub comfortingly along the back of the girl in his arms.

It was no use to try to continue to sleep. But the feeling of him pulling her closer, his hand traveling over her back...she could ignore the alarm to enjoy that for a few more moments.

"Morning..." She finally mumbled, looking up at him.

This... was making him far too happy, his stomach doing a happy little flip at seeing her wake up beside him like this.

"Good morning..." he smiled softly, his own voice sleepy but so clearly content being here with her.

"I think they want our attention."

The beep was coming from the place in the wall they had been told to put their arms for their schedules. Which meant, she bet, that this was when that schedule started.

He groaned and hid his face into his pillow more, knowing they really had to get up but not wanting to. Couldn't they just sleep forever?

"It's a really, really annoying sound... Do they wake up like this every morning? No wonder they're all so grumpy."

She couldn't keep in the giggle that comment brought out in her, buring her face against his side.

But it was a really annoying sound.

Pushing up, she walked over to the slot in the wall, experimentally inserting her arm. The beeping stopped, and with a little shivery sensation, a purple schedule appeared on her arm.

"Looks like we were suppose to be up and showered and dressed by now..."

Losing her warmth made him wake up more, sitting up with a reluctant yawn as he watched her.

"Huh... well, we did 1 out of 3, I'd say that's good enough."

She laughed, studying her arm again.

"Breakfast and then a meeting."

The word meeting printed on her skin like that felt solid. Ominous.

Finally rolling out of bed, he looked at her arm. The annoying device was still beeping, whoever was controlling it clearly knowing Peeta was in here too. He hesitantly placed his arm in too, getting a schedule of his own.

"They're exactly the same."

"Well, at least we won't be separated."

Still, it didn't feel right. The whole place didn't feel right. Now that a new day had dawned (not that they could tell here), all the unease of yesterday was starting to sneak back into her bones.

"Yeah... that's definitely a good thing." Because what if they got separated and that was it? The last time they saw each other? The thought was kind of terrifying given their situation.

"I guess we should get changed and find food. Breakfast is soon, apparently."

She nodded, going to the dresser and finding it full of basic clothes. Plain and generics looking, but clean. And their size.

She lifted out change of clothes and ducked into the bathroom, changing quickly so Peeta could use it as well. There was a brush in there, and she snagged it, pulling it through her snarled up hair as she came back in.

"Do you think we eat with everyone?"

Once they were all ready and set (though behind schedule, apparently) he waited for her by the door, reluctant to open it. Walking through meant their happy little world from last night was really over... even though it already was.

"I really hope so. I want to know how the others are doing," a pause then. "And I hope one of our meetings is about how to get Johanna back." Because she didn't deserve to be left behind. She had helped them more than they knew.

Johanna. Katniss felt her stomach drop as that little bit of reality hit her hard.

What if it was Johanna? What if it had been her? Or Peeta? Her hand grabbed his, holding it tightly.

"I'm sure we can bring it up."

He laced his fingers with hers, strong and secure, before heading out at last. He wasn't exactly sure where anything was but the hospital at this point, but there were more than enough guards and signs around to get them headed toward breakfast. If his grumbling stomach had anything to say, it definitely wanted to head there.

Edited 2012-07-18 23:48 (UTC)

Now that they weren't fugitives escaping into the night and could take the time to look around, the place was really quite easy to find ones way around. Everything was laid out precisely, logically, and without any feeling that a human had any effect on it at all.

It was disconcerting.

But soon enough they were to the mess hall, a steady hum of chatter pulling them forward.