katniss and peeta | a oneshot

katniss and peeta

The smell of freshly baking bread wafted through Katniss' window, sending her stomach into a series of rumbles. Unable to control herself, she was already up and walking towards the source of the delicious aroma. It didn't take her long to travel the short distance through the rain and night across the Victor's Village to Peeta's house. It was like some strange force, strong as gravity, was ever pulling her towards this place. Most nights she ended up here. She could never decide if it was the bread or the boy who made it which compelled her so.

Of course, Peeta was already expecting her arrival and so, before she even had the chance to knock, she heard his melodic voice calling out to her, "It's open."

Katniss gently opened and closed the door, walking gracefully over the floorboards into the kitchen. She was greeted by the sight of Peeta leaning over the benchtop; neck craned, eyebrows crinkling with concentration. In his hand was a piping bag. Meticulously, masterfully he painted frosting over a large, pale blue cake. Beside him sat a steaming, mouth-watering loaf of bread.

Katniss was content to silently observe him for a moment, for he had on his face that same look she had come to admire over the years. That steady gaze of unwavering intensity. That distant reverie, with that same thoughtful if not wistful expression tugging at his features. His whole countenance, as she had often thought, suggested a whole other part of Peeta which remained buried deep inside of him. A sudden and familiar pang in Katniss' chest reminded her again of the most alarming fondness which she had developed towards Peeta as of late. She dared not dwell on what those feelings might mean.

"I wonder sometimes, what goes on inside that head of yours?" she said, her voice full of an unusual tenderness. Sensing her tone, Peeta looked up from his work, smiling with his eyes in that way he always did when Katniss was around. God, he has the most beautiful eyes, Katniss thought to herself. And really, there was no other way to describe them.

She made her way towards the bench and sat down, her long hair twisting and shifting, on the stool he kept for her. Peeta looked her over knowingly as she stared with longing at his bread loaf. "I take it you'll be wanting some then?" he said amiably, cutting her a generous slice. He passed it over to her, and then proceeded to cut his own self a slice as well. Watching her from beneath half-closed eyes, he was amused to see her practically devour the thing whole; her eyelids drooping with gratification.

He tucked the image away in his heart, like a treasure. He had to smother a smile, for of course it wouldn't do to have her realising the effect she could have on him. It didn't matter how he felt about her. They had finally achieved a sense of normalcy and he could hardly impose upon her to ruin it with his boyish affections. Things were easy, undefined. But he didn't want that, not really. Not that he would ever tell Katniss that. No, she could never see that side of him. He didn't realise how she too hid behind a mask of cool indifference, her brooding and tempestuous moods largely due to her indecision regarding him. Her concerns were not of herself though. Rather, she worried for Peeta. Her trepidation to act on her emotions was no small thing, for she had made firm her resolve to wait until he was properly ready before starting any kind of relationship again. No matter how much it hurt her to have to conceal her true feelings.

Presently, she looked up to see Peeta staring at her with unmistakable longing. When she met those bewildered eyes, it seemed that the months of pining and waiting all crashed down atop of her and she was afflicted by a profound sense of hopelessness. Outwardly, she smiled, but it was the kind of smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. And although Peeta acknowledged that it was a rare and beautiful thing to see Katniss smiling, the pain evident beneath her expression negated what elation he might have felt if she truly were smiling at him in a genuine way. Although she was seated hardly a metre from him, it felt as if she were a world away. And suddenly, he couldn't stand it a moment longer.