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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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"For the cameras," Peeta spoke the obvious for the sake of making things less awkward. He definitely heard the bitterness in his voice and immediately felt guilty, even though Peeta knew he shouldn't. It felt a bit ridiculous to worry about what Gale thought now of all days, or how it affected the boy's relationship with Katniss. But it was still there, still haunting him like he was supposed to feel bad... and he was suddenly all too aware of the locket around Katniss' neck with his picture tucked inside.

The one he'd given her... on that beach that felt so far away now.

Focusing back on the present, he squeezed Katniss' hand, looking from the back of Gale's head to her again.

"Right," Gale continued, still not looking at either of them. "You're supposed to be a symbol, some representation of hope and perseverance. We can't have you splitting up now."

Katniss flinched at that. His words, his emphasis.

This wasn't a situation she had been expecting to come back into, and if anything? It was far more awkward now. She tried to think of something to add, to soothe, but had a feeling she wouldn't manage anything that wouldn't make things worse.

"Gale-"

"And here's your room. Your mom and Prim are right across the hall." He pointed to the plain white door across from the one he'd just opened.

"Thank you, Gale." It was the only thing Peeta could think to say right now. Even though he was usually so good with words, it was probably best not to interfere in... well... whatever went on between those two. The reassurances from last night with Katniss had felt good and hopeful despite the state of the world, but there was always still... this.

He watched as the other boy simply nodded and would barely look at Katniss, and he felt angry for her.

Still, he did not let go of her hand, even through the awkward silence.

"Well, I think we've got it."

She gave Gale a tight, overly large smile, and he pressed his lips together, started to speak, and reconsidered. Even with this gap between them, Katniss knew that she didn't need to do more to communicate to him what she was feeling.

"Call me if you need me then." He hesitate, and then walked down the hall, ducking down the first corridor he reached.

Peeta let out a breath he had not realized he was holding when Gale left, warily looking toward Katniss.

"You ok?"

She scowled at where Gale had vanished, before her shoulder slumped down.

"I just...don't get him anymore."

He used to be one of the few people she did. Or thought she did. And it was hard, feeling like she was on eggshells around him. Especially at a time when figuring out delicate interpersonal relationships wasn't high on her list of worries.

"Let's just go get settled in."

At least they were in closer proximity to her family now, knowing exactly where they were staying, and she could see them with ease. He hoped that would help make this process easier, especially with the cold way Gale was treating her.

He really hated how guilty he felt.

"C'mon," he encouraged gently, tugging her hand to lead them inside the room. This one was the same size as the previous room they had been given, though there was one larger bed rather than two separate ones. He only let go of her hand once they were inside, looking around absently. "Do you want to talk about it?" About him, he meant.

She shrugged, sinking down on to the bed in exhaustion. And this day wasn't even over yet. It hadn't even yet sunk in there was only one bed.

Would talking to Peeta help? There was some intrinsic conflict of interest there, but...who else could she talk to? Prim didn't know everything, and she didn't want to lead her, or anyone, through it all.

"I just don't know what he wants from me. Like some how this was planned to hurt him."

Peeta went to sit beside her, hands clasped between his knees.

"I think... it's tough for everyone right now. He's probably having a tougher time handling this than he's showing, so he's taking it out the only way he can thin of."

Not that it made it right or okay.

It was, it had to be.

But it still didn't make her happy.

She looked over at him, at his hands. Hands that should be scared up, rough, but instead were smooth, soothed by Capitol technology.

"I just...don't know when he decided rough times were when we should push apart."

It didn't seem right to Peeta either but he didn't know Gale as well as Katniss did. From what he understood of him, Gale was stubborn but faithful to those he cared about, while not being the most open of people. He could understand why.

When he caught her looking at his hands he reached out to hold one of hers again, lacing their fingers together. "I'm sorry, Katniss."

She was glad for the contact. She wasn't sure when she had grown so dependent on his contact, but it soothed her mind, stopped it from trying to trip over it's self.

"I'll try to catch him alone, maybe."

Not in the woods, not here, but maybe she'd have more luck. With out authority around. Or Peeta.

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