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[inciting]

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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>3

[inciting]

Wait, was he laughing at her?

She was too mellow, and warm and heavy to really feel any sort of anger. But she also wasn't going to let Peeta get away with laughing at her.

However, she also wasn't going to pull away from this right now. So without thinking too much about it, she opened her mouth, catching his bottom lip in her teeth in a gentle nip.

[bakersson]

He didn't mean to really. More like he wouldn't dare laugh at Katniss when they were doing something so intimate and new to the both of them (new in this context anyway). He was just happy and still in a bit of disbelief that she would be okay with this, that they were even doing this. Was this considered "making out"? He wasn't even sure.

The use of her teeth definitely caught him off guard however and in a split second he was the one left making a pleased sound, the hand that was resting on her back curling against it instead. That had felt... really nice, better than he was expecting, and it pushed him back into line, lips slightly parting in reaction and kissing her top lip.

[inciting]

Well, that worked right. Right? That was the reaction she wanted?

She had no idea what she was doing.

But it felt right, it felt good, and right now that was all Katniss cared about. They could deal with things in the morning. She had a feeling, in the morning, this would seem so much smaller. So right now she'd let it seem big.

[bakersson]

His breathing was becoming naturally more labored the longer they kissed, warmth and pleasurable tingling dancing along his limbs and down through his stomach, and he suddenly knew if they didn't stop soon there would be a problem there he couldn't exactly hide.

And that would be so embarrassing with Katniss. Like this. The first time they even try to...

It's with that thought fresh in his mind that he eventually eases from her lips to take a deep breath or two, eyes opening slightly to look up at her. He smiles gently, his thumb once against stroking skin. "Need to... breathe."

[inciting]

That actually wasn't the worst idea. Something was twisting up in her stomach, and she didn't know what. But it was tense and tight and not... unpleasant. But uncomfortable.

She lifted her head, looking down at him, lids heavy over her grey eyes.

"I...wow."

[bakersson]

"Thanks," he couldn't stop himself from teasing slightly, smiling wider as he didn't pull from her gaze, though his hand did drop down to loosely rest against the side of her neck. They really had never kissed like that before.

"I mean... yeah. Wow."

[inciting]

There was no spite in it when she gently smacked his arm, a smile stretching her face. A bigger smile than she had had in a long time.

Apparently they'd found something besides being in the woods that made Katniss really smile.

"I uhh. Yeah. Have never..." Of course she hadn't. Because the only kissing she'd done that he wasn't there for was brief and awkward.

[bakersson]

Peeta laughed at the smack, so glad to see Katniss smiling like that. It really didn't happen often enough. He really liked it.

"I know... I mean- well, I didn't know but... I meant it's okay." Because he sure as hell wasn't any more experienced than she was. "I didn't really notice."

[inciting]

"What if we're really terrible at it and just don't know any better?"

She tried to compare it to her kiss from Gale. Not that she was going to share that with Peeta. But...it didn't really compare. that was awkward, and stiff, and that didn't even get into the emotional turmoil from it. Happy, and heavy and warm were far from how it had made her feel.

[bakersson]

That earned another small laugh, both arms wrapping around her again. "Then we'll just have to keep our standards low with each other?"

[inciting]

That caused an unexpected little flip in her stomach, and she set that aside to think about later, too.

And instead just pressed her face into his shoulder.

[bakersson]

His fingers stroked down her long hair as he continued to hold her, keeping the silence going for some time. Had he just pressured her into something she wasn't prepared for? He hoped not.

"Unless... you wanted to kiss other people. I'd understand."

[inciting]

The silence, and his fingers stroking her hair were undoing her promise not to sleep for a long time. It was such a small movement, but so comforting, so calming.

"No." She said, before feeling that that was maybe not enough. "I'm fine with...you kiss well. It was...enough kissing."

She should have left it at no.

[bakersson]

Her answer made him laugh but definitely not in a mocking way, though of course it didn't stop him from teasing her. As usual.

"Did Ms. Katniss Everdeen just say I'm a good kisser? Really? I almost wish we did have cameras on us right now to capture the moment, so I could replay it over and over again. Forever."

[inciting]

"Actually I said kissing you was good enough." but she was smiling again.

And more than happy to give a little of what she was taking.

"You don't kiss as good with the camera's around. Must be performance anxiety."

[bakersson]

She made him laugh harder at that, covering his eyes with one of his hands.

"Ouch, okay okay I totally deserved that."

[inciting]

"Good thing you don't have that now..."

She leaned up, stealing another kiss. Because she liked them quite a bit.

[bakersson]

He was still smiling when she kissed him, though there wasn't a single moment of hesitation as he returned it happily, a gentle warmth settling in the center of his chest. This was too perfect.

"With more practice I'll get over it quicker."

[inciting]

"So are you saying we should practice more?" She cocked her head at him, biting her lip in a half grin.

It wasn't an idea she was going to object to. Practicing kissing in their little world.

[bakersson]

He pushed himself up a bit this time too until he was leaning on his elbow, meeting her halfway. "I'd never say no to that." Peeta grinned, before leaning into her this time and stealing the next kiss first.

[inciting]

"I didn't think you would."

This time she sank back, pulling Peeta half on top of her as she went. Let him be in control for a bit.

[bakersson]

He rolled onto his side with the movement, one arm propped on the bed to hold himself up a bit, though their bodies still touched when he leaned over her to place his lips onto hers again, starting the kiss sweetly like he would have in the arenas, though this time... it was twice as genuine.

[inciting]

It was nice, these slow, soft kisses. She tried to think back on all the ways they had kissed before, but those felt surreal, like they belonged to other people. Not them.

She laid small on his lips, his cheeks, along the strong line of his jaw, letting herself enjoy it. Exploring.

[bakersson]

He had no idea what this meant, where exactly the kisses put them, or if anything had changed, but those were difficult questions he felt would take longer to answer. For now, this was what they both wanted and needed and Peeta was more than happy to share it with Katniss.

And the kissing was really nice.

He couldn't stop smiling as she explored to other parts of his face, leaning in to gently place one by her throat in return, leaving an affectionate nuzzle there right after. "I could get used to this."

[inciting]

"That sounds so familiar!" She said with a smile. Remembering when she found him in the cave. And how happy a moment that had been.

Her hand found his and twined their fingers together.