Katniss and Peeta: For you

Taken Back

Katniss POV

My sleep is torturous, filled with a singe memory. Waking up, on the hovercraft, so afraid and so angry. To find I'd been lied to, that the promise I'd made, in the dark and in a drunken, had been broken. That Peeta, the only innocent person in that whole arena, was gone.

I wake up, shivering in Peeta's arms, his eyes filled with concern.

"I'm okay," I murmur. "It's nothing new."

"Katniss-"

"No." I say. "I just want to sleep right now Peeta."

I hear him puff in protest, but thankfully. He stays silent, tightening his arms around me.

It amazes me, how after all he's been through, the horrors he's experienced. His arms are still strong, still sheltering me from the storms we both face.

While my tiny frame is weak and battered, his is still strong, strong enough to shelter the two of us. I don't understand how he does it. After all he's been through, he is still the same loving person.

I feel a hand running its way through my tangled hair. I feel warm breath, on my neck.     

Obviously I fell back asleep, my sleep not disrupted by any other nightmares. Now I'm awake, and I have to muck through this messy day. But I won't be alone, I'll have Peeta beside me.

Unlike Effie.

I bolt up, causing Peeta to fall out of bed. "Katniss!" He groans. "What happened?"

I don't answer, I crawl out of bed heading toward the stairs

Of course, Peeta catches up with me, before I reach the stairs, even with his prosthetic leg, he can run faster than a girl crawling. He picks me up in his arms, ignoring my grumbling.

"At least tell me what's the matter before you run off." He grunts.

"I just want to say goodbye to Effie before she goes out." I groan.

"Well I could of carried you the whole way." He grumbles.

We meet Effie in the living room, once again her outfit is plain, a simple black skirt and a lacy white shirt. she sits stiffly, picking at a fruit salad.

"Hello Effie." Peeta says. His voice gentle, like how it was when I lay injured in the cave.

"Good morning Peeta, Katniss." Effie says, her voice as dull as the day before. "So, what are you planning to do today?"

"Plutarch wanted to see us." I say as Peeta puts me down in my chair. "We'll see what he wants."

"Well tell him hello from me." She says, a frown appearing on his face. "And do tell him, we understand his job keeps him busy, and that there's no need to stay for very long."

Peeta and I both stifle grins. While both Effie and Plutarch came from the capital and both of them were involved with the games, they never really saw eye to eye.

The three of us head out the door together, parting ways when Effie reaches the hospital. "Say hello from us, okay?" I ask.

Effie touches my shoulder gently. "Of course dear."

We find Plutarch, watching the construction of the new hob, this one, won't be illegal. 

"Morning." I say stiffly.

"Ah Katniss, Peeta." He says. "How are you two feeling?"

"Like I got shot." I reply.

We watch Plutarch shift uncomfortably for a moment. "Well, its good to see you both." He says after a moment.