string_theory | (no subject)

"Yeah, it sure had been."

Tucking her feet up on the bed, she leaned her head on his shoulder. Exhaustion had suddenly caught up to her, and she eyed the other bed, not wanting to leave Peeta's side.

Maybe they could move the bed. If not, they could just squeeze into the twin, she supposed. It was smaller than they normally slept in, but they could make it work.

"How are they? Prim and your mom?" Because it was easier to focus on her right now. Besides, he genuinely did care and he knew starting tomorrow morning, they probably wouldn't have many moments like these alone together anymore.

"Good. There's food and space for everyone here, and they're safe."

Which was better than before. Even if not for that cost. Never for it.

Studying his face, she tried to find something more to add.

"They're giving Prim medical training. A lot of people are getting training here..."

He couldn't help but smile a bit at that. "Little Prim getting medical training... Can't say I'm all that surprised." Such different sisters yet both able to help in their own ways.

Though he was starting to wonder just how severe Katniss' impact was going to be on the whole... and what was expected of him along with her.

He grew silent again but not for long, shifting some so he could turn onto his side and face her, never letting go of that hand. "We're really going to have to do something, aren't we?"

"Me neither. She'll be wonderful at it."

Something she could never be in 12. Another reason to be greatful.

"Yeah." Something. Something big. "But we've come this far..."

And lost this much.

Peeta smiles then, his free arm just gently resting across her hip. "We'll keep on going together."

She shifted, setting her feet on either side of him so they were face to face. The position was so close to how they had sat on the roof, and she reached out, cupping both his hands in hers.

"We're gonna make it through."

The bed was clearly far too small for the both of them but he didn't really care in this moment. He wanted to be close to her.

Her touch made him smile more and scoot closer if it was even possible.

"We can take a night not to think about it."

"Do you want to try to push the beds together?"

She wasn't about to pass out on him, not when this might be the last peaceful night they got. She wanted to make it last.

She also wanted to stretch out and relax. This was going to be their place, now, and she was going to settle into it. No matter what.

"Probably would be more comfortable," he agrees with a sheepish look, having to force himself to pull away from her and get up. Because even though they weren't obligated to behave like a couple for an audience here, this had nothing to do with a show or cameras or convincing anyone of anything. He knew they both needed it.

Walking to the other bed, he begins to pull it closer to the center of the room. The room itself is small and cramped, but not that bad for two people. It was... clean. Private (for all he knew). Warm. Those things mattered more.

Glad they weren't bolted down, she went to her's, pushing it towards Peeta's till the two were next to each other, making a decent bed in the middle where they meet.

She looked through the drawers, finding simple, plain pajamas for both of them. Simple and plain seemed to be how this place operated. She wasn't complaining.

"I'll be right back." She tossed him his PJs, slipping to the bathroom to change and wash up.

He was ready to tease her about not wanting to change in the same room as him, but she was gone before he could, just smiling to himself instead. He was quickly able to change and pull back the covers, trying to somehow mesh them all together to make the makeshift bed more comfortable. Sleep was something he wanted to avoid for as long as possible tonight, even though his mind was exhausted with all the new information that was pounded into them today.

The fantasy of escaping forever with just her was sounding really nice right now.

Even if they had still been pant-less.

With a sigh, he flopped onto the bigger bed on his back, staring up at an equally dull ceiling as he waited for her.

She wasn't gone long, quickly slipping back into bed with him. It took a moment to figure out the gap, before she settled her head into the crook of his arm with a deep sigh.

Had it really only been a few weeks since they'd laid like this?

But this time, the future held a lot more hope..

He gladly wrapped both arms around her, kissing the top of her head. This was nice. It always felt right with her.

"I'll be honest... It feels nice when you let me do this."

She let out a little grunt of laughter, not sure what to say.

"I...it's the only way I really sleep, anymore." She finally confided, twisting so her face was turned up to his. It was more candid then she usually was, but Peeta...she could tell him.

"Then we'll just have to keep doing it, won't we?" He said with a grin, completely content with that fact. "It really helps me too. You calm down the nightmares."

The soft laugh became a big grin, as she laid her hand on his chest.

"I have no plans to do anything differently."

And clearly no one higher up objected to this either, since they were given a room together without asking.

That brought up something he'd been thinking of in the back of his mind, something that hadn't been as important as any current events until now when they were finally truly alone.

"So this doesn't bother you away from pretending anymore?" He wanted to be sure. They had held each other more times than he could remember, kissed, held hands, embraced, but he was never sure how comfortable Katniss really was with it all when they weren't obligated to behave like this. When they weren't lying about marriage and babies or acting so unlike themselves.

She shrugged, trying to find the words to express what she needed.

"This...isn't fake." Was what she finally settled on. "All of that was for...other people. This is for us."

Their own little world. It was the only place without all this pressure. Without the whole world trying to push them.

Peeta smiled. "I can work with that."

"Well, that's good..." She looked up, teasing. A little. Because this was their own little world, and if they could leave this awful day like this, it wouldn't be so bad.

He laughed lightly in return, fingers idly playing with the ends of her hair.

"You're... my whole world now. I still want to just spend every possible moment with you and only you."

Not that it was possible with the reality of the world's current status. But he could dream about it.

"I can't imagine we wouldn't eventually get on each other nerves." She said with a soft chuckle, relaxing back into the crook of his arm.

Still. It wasn't the worst though. Her mind drifted back, to her and Haymitch's discussion. On how for being forced into marriage she'd still made out fairly well.

"I think that's normal to happen," he says with a smile up at the ceiling, feeling so much more at ease like this. It was so easy to forget what was going on out there when they were in their little world. "But it would take a lot for you to get on my nerves."

"That's pretty easy to say now. You just wait."

Her eyes had adjusted to the scan light, and she traced the patterns of the ceiling panels.

What would life had been like if they had been left to their own devices?

"...do you think you would have ever come and talked to me? If we hadn't been reaped?"

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oh katniss. those words you just...can't find to express your feelings for Peeta. Oh those words.

you'll figure them out one day... one day...

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