You can't catch me (Peeta Mellark x Reader)

BACKSTORY: Chapter 6: Rue

Word Count: 812

It's been two years since my first games. In that time, I mentored someone last year, but they didn't survive. This year is the 74th games and just like me, a 12 year old girl was plucked from the crowd.

"Hello, Rue." I said to her as she entered the train and sat down at the table across from me.

"Hi." She said shyly, looking down at her fingers.

"Did you say goodbye to everyone?" I asked her and she nodded. "Good."

"Your like me." She said, looked up. "You were 12."

"I was..." I trailed off, not sure what to say. "Did you watch?"

"Only parts, but it seemed terrible." She said as a tear rolled down her face.

"It was." The sight of her reminded me so much of myself. "I'm sorry this happened to you."

"It's okay." She smiled. "It wasn't you who picked my name."

-

I helped her through her training and we grew very close. The age gap wasn't large either, I was turning 15 soon and she had turned 12. We used to stay up late and watch movies, we used to cook together and we got along really well.

-

In her interview, she said the exact phrase I always told her. If they can't catch me, they can't kill me. I saw how small she looked sitting in her chair compared to the other tributes. I was suddenly tapped on the shoulder by a brunette girl standing next to me.

"Aren't you the girl from the 72nd?" She asked.

"Uh- yeah that was me." I turned to her and answered. "Y/n" I stuck my hand out and she shook it. The boy next to her gave me a wave and I waved in response.

"Katniss." She smiled. "That's Peeta." She gestured to the boy standing behind her.

"Your a mentor, right?" He asked.

"Yeah, Thresh was just on before, Rue's there now." I pointed to Rue and they both looked and smiled. Rue began to walk of stage and I took her hand. I gave Peeta and Katniss a wave goodbye as I walked away.

-

It was the day of the games, Rue was terrified and tried to hide it but, I knew how she felt. As we walked towards the plane, I said what would be my last goodbye, though I knew it would be, I didn't want to admit it. "If they can't catch you, they can't kill you." She nodded. "Be careful, Rue. Please."

"I wanna go home." A tear fell from her eye.

"So did I." I kneeled down. "I was terrified, but I pushed through it and everything worked out in the end."

"You'll watch right?" She asked.

"Every bit." I promised her I'd keep an eye on her. She needed to know that no matter what, I was always going to be there, like I was right next to her.

"I love you." She whispered.

"I love you too." I whispered back as she walked off and onto the plane. I understand why my mother didn't look back the day I left, I was scared to see her face again, I didn't want to cry, I didn't want to do something to stop it, cause if I did I'd get myself killed.

As I walked away I was met by Katniss. "Goodluck, Katniss. If not Rue, then I'm rooting for you." I smiled.

"Thank you." She smiled and kept walking.

-

A couple days later, as I watched the games unfold.

*By the way Katniss had rejected Peeta in the cave after she had found him by the river. I don't ship Katniss and Gale AT ALL but it works for the story so it will come in later*

I saw Rue save Katniss and help her destroy the Careers supplies. I panicked when Rue was caught in the net but Katniss was there to cut her out. They shared a sweet moment but it was all ruined when a spear was thrown. I thought all was well for a moment but...Rue was hit, right in the chest. Tears swelled in my eyes. While Katniss had Rue in her arms, she spoke her last words while Katniss sung.

"They caught me, Y/n." She spoke softly. "I'm sorry..."

"It's okay, Rue." I spoke as if she could hear me. "Katniss caught them too." Tears streamed down my face. I watched as Katniss surrounded her with flowers and held her three fingers up in the air. I did the same from my living room in the Victors Village. I heard yelling and fighting outside and I quickly ran out to see what it was. The people of 11 were fighting the peacekeepers, Katniss started something I don't think she knows how to finish. Lets just hope I can help her the way she helped Rue.