Fluid Heart, Firey Soul (Peeta Mellark x Reader)

Chapter 25 - Home

There's a small burst of static and then it's silent. My eyes meet Peeta's and I can see the fear and disbelief in them as we both come to terms with the truth. The Gamemakers never intended for both of us to win. This was all part of their plan, to create the most dramatic finale in history. And I fell for it like a fool.

"It's not all that surprising," he says softly, breaking the silence between us. He takes a step closer to me. He's no longer armed, his weapon buried in Cato's skull. But I still have mine and it feels like a cruel advantage. I toss my trident aside and take a step back.

"No, do it," Peeta demands, shoving my weapon back into my hands. "Do it before they send those mutts back. I can't die like Cato."

"You won't die like Cato. You're going to kill me and go home, okay?" I tell him, pushing the trident back at him. My own death would be easier to accept than Peeta's. He's done nothing to deserve it.

"You know I can't," Peeta tells me, discarding the trident.

In a moment of desperation, I turn the trident on myself. As the sharp point pricks my throat, all I can think about is how much I never wanted it to end like this. But here we are and I know this is the right thing to do.

"You can't kill yourself," he pleads, desperation thick in his voice as he tries to wrestle the weapon from my grasp. My knuckles are white, holding on with every ounce of strength I have left. I feel my body trembling but I refuse to let go. If Peeta dies, I'll never forgive myself.

"There can only be one victor, Peeta. So please, just look away." The sharp tine digs into my skin, drawing a thin line of blood across my neck. I close my eyes as I push the weapon deeper. But then I feel his grip on my arms, pulling the trident away. I open my eyes to see him throwing it into the lake. A sob escapes my lips as I stare helplessly at the spot where it disappeared.

Tears start to cloud my vision as I scream his name, "Peeta! Don't you get it? You deserve this more than I do." My voice echoes in the arena, but it falls on deaf ears. He doesn't understand. He deserves to live more than I do. I've turned into a monster in here, killing for the sake of survival. I don't deserve to walk out of here alive, but Peeta... he's done nothing wrong, nothing to deserve this fate. He's been by my side through it all, offering me comfort and protection. How can I leave him behind now?

But Peeta's voice carries on, pleading for me to live. His words start to fade into the background because my words from earlier keep swirling around in my head. "There can only be one victor." It's what the Capitol demands. We can't both live— I have to die. My trembling hands reach into my coat pocket, pulling out a handful of the berries I had put in there earlier. Peeta's eyes widen and he clamps down on my wrist, his voice barely above a whisper. "I won't let you," he says firmly. In that moment, I realize just how much he truly cares about me and I'm overwhelmed with emotion at the thought of leaving him alone.

"Then we do it together," I say, my heart is heavy as I offer him a handful of berries, keeping the rest for myself. Our eyes meet and I can see the fear and sadness reflected in them. I lean in, my lips meeting his for one last kiss. His hand cradles the back of my head, pulling me closer. I don't want it to end, but sadly, it does.

Reluctantly, we pull away and I whisper through shaky breaths, "on the count of three." Standing face to face, our hands intertwined, I give him a tight squeeze as a goodbye before the handful of berries closer to my mouth. "One." My mind can't help but wonder if anyone would even care about us both dying together. "Two." I hope that I get to see Fletcher and Rue again. "Three." It's too late to change my mind. Just as the berries hit my lips, the trumpets begin to blare.

The frantic voice of Claudius Templesmith shouts above the trumpets. "Stop! Stop! Ladies and gentlemen, I'm pleased to present the victors of the Seventy-fourth Hunger Games, (Y/N) (L/N) and Peeta Mellark!" I drop the berries and look up at Peeta. A wave of disbelief washes over me as I laugh hysterically and leap into his arms, clinging onto him like it's the last time I ever will.