Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/3114698.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      F/M, M/M, Multi
  Fandom:
      Hunger_Games_Series_-_All_Media_Types, Hunger_Games_Trilogy_-_Suzanne
      Collins, The_Hunger_Games_(Movies)
  Relationship:
      Gale_Hawthorne/Peeta_Mellark, Gale_Hawthorne/Peeta_Mellark/Katniss
      Everdeen, Katniss_Everdeen/Peeta_Mellark, Katniss_Everdeen/Gale_Hawthorne
  Character:
      Peeta_Mellark, Gale_Hawthorne, Original_Characters, Katniss_Everdeen
  Additional Tags:
      Pre-Catching_Fire, Canon_Divergence, Sexual_Content, Threesome_-_F/M/M,
      POV_Gale
  Series:
      Part 3 of The_Song_of_the_Sky_Lark
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-01-04 Updated: 2016-10-05 Chapters: 13/? Words: 70985
****** The Lark's Awakening ******
by ForestFairy
Summary
     Peeta Mellark's blond, wavy locks look unruly, snowflakes caught in
     his long eyelashes. His expression is one of shock, of a deer
     realizing it's not alone, a predator is near. His lips are slightly
     blueish from the cold, wet and swollen from kissing.
Notes
     Long Author's notes are not my thing, I don't like to spoil my story,
     but it seems a bit of a warning must take place. Read the tags. And
     then...
     READ THIS:
     The Lark's Awakening is a part of a series, The Song of the Sky Lark,
     focusing on Peeta Mellark in relationships that are not canon, in a
     canon setting.
     If you're not into non-canon pairings, and if malexmale plus explicit
     content and dirty talk is making you uncomfortable, stop reading.
     Also if you're anti-Katniss, can't stand a girl in your M/M fic, stop
     reading. She is important and this will end up in a threesome.
     If you dislike Gale, this is not the story for you either, as it is
     written entirely from Gale's POV.
     The Lark's Awakening's focuses on the relationship between Gale and
     Peeta. Yes, there will be Everlark. There will be Everthorne. But all
     in all, the majority of this fic is about Hawlark. Cannot handle
     that? Understandable, I also dislike certain pairings, plots or
     characters. The good thing is, there are gazillions of great stories
     on this site. Do yourself a favor and read one of them. 'Kay?
     ........
     Still here? You're a tough cookie, respect!
     Now that we're all cozy and alone, snuggle closer and listen to me
     telling you, in my most Effie-ish voice:
     Welcome, welcome to those who remain. I'm glad you want to read
     something different and are not afraid of the pairing. Have fun!
***** Prologue *****
===============================================================================
 
 
The slag heap is actually a pretty depressing place. Even the name is
depressing. The debris of the mining production is collected here, assembled in
huge hills of dark, foul slime. It is more than nasty. Smelly, uncomfortable,
definitely not a cozy place to linger. Freezing in winter, scorchingly hot in
summer.
 
===============================================================================


Most couples that frequented the heap were teenagers, still in school. Their
encounters were generally short. Boys found release quickly, their girls'
bodies still inexperienced in terms of real pleasure. Most of them were
obviously glad that the deed was done and their partners satisfied, judging by
the way they used to shuffle back home.

Gale Hawthorne had visited the slag heap for the first time when he had been
thirteen years old, shortly after his father had died. That was early, even for
a Seam boy. Most boys at that age still slept in their mother's bed. There was
no way around that, for the poor Seam kids. Fortunately his mother slept with
Posy and Vick in her bed, while he shared his with his brother Rory. It was
hard to hide an erection, made touching yourself nearly impossible. Too many
people in the same room, so if you felt the urge to scratch yourself, you had
to do it somewhere else. Gale didn't masturbate much. There wasn't any need for
that. Because the girls offered to do all the work anyway.

At thirteen Namy Howers, a girl in his class, boldly stated that she wanted him
to go to the slag heap with her. Namy was a cute girl, tip-tilted nose and
curly black locks. And she had had a crush on him. They went, hand in hand,
behind a smaller hill near the entrance where they did it standing tall, her
skirt hiked up and his pants barely opened, because the ground was muddy and
clothes were valuable. Her dark skin glowed from exhaustion when he took her,
clumsy and inexperienced. She didn't have much fun, bled even. It had been her
first time as it had been his, and she cried a little. Gale tried his best to
be gentle with her and promised to be with her as her boyfriend, so she had
been happy. They went again. And again.
A few weeks later another girl who was two classes above him asked if he was
interested to go with her.
Laika Carrowshead was experienced and her tits were bigger than Namy's. So Gale
thought, why not? He definitely enjoyed her better than Namy, because Laika
knew what she was doing. She actually taught him how to get a girl off, how to
make her explode with his tongue and how to hit all those right places. When
Namy found out that he had been to the slag heap with Laika she had been hurt,
and he felt bad.
But not so bad that he regretted it.
He actually took Namy once more. Much later, when they were sixteen and her
brother had been reaped. He felt anger and hate, wanted to soothe her hurt, so
he had brought her multiple climaxes that night.

Laika had married some coal miner shortly after his seventeenth birthday.

Namy got a new boyfriend after claiming that Gale was emotionally crippled,
cold to her. That wasn't true, he thought, he was not cold. He just wasn't
interested in these girls beyond their physical charms. They were boring.

Yes, Gale Hawthorne had been to the slag heap countless times before the summer
of the 74th Hunger Games and his last ever reaping. Mostly in summer, with Seam
girls from the neighborhood.
Dark skinned and slim as himself, Gale had clear preferences. Not that there
were many choices. Town girls rarely went to the slag heap and even if they
wanted him, he wouldn't touch them.
He sometimes wondered if the nipples of the mayor's daughter were as pink as
her lips. How Madge Undersee would look if she were lying naked in the mud at
one of the heaps, but that was almost an afterthought. He never seriously
considered asking her to go.

The only blonde Seam girl with the Town look was Primrose Everdeen and she was
a child, and he loved her like a sister. Her actual sister was another story
altogether.
He didn't think of Katniss Everdeen as a sexual being, a woman, until one of
the peacekeepers, Darius, flirted with her at the Hob. A possessive urge went
over him then.
Katniss Everdeen was his. His girl. He would never allow a dirty peacekeeper to
put his hands on her. He liked Darius, but he wouldn't hold back when it came
to Katniss. From the moment this thought of possessiveness overcame Gale he
started to imagine Katniss coming to the slag heap with him. Which brought
forth an erection every time, without fail.

He sought out Becca Elmskard, his latest conquest, brought her to the slag heap
and fucked her hard, while imagining Katniss beneath his shuddering body. He
never came so violently before.
It was not long after that, that he realized that Katniss was different. He
didn't want to destroy their friendship. Because Katniss was his best friend.
He was insanely attracted to her, but most importantly she was his hunting
partner, a girl he actually thought of as an equal. A partner that would one
day make a good wife to him.
He would start working at the mines only two days after reaping day. School
would be out forever, and the days with Katniss in the woods would come to an
end, become a nice, but distant memory. He would only be able to hunt on
Sundays, which would restrict their short time together even further.
So Gale planned a big confession. If he survived his last reaping he would ask
Katniss out. His mother, Hazelle, liked Katniss. She wouldn't mind if he
brought her home with him. She definitely wouldn't mind if Katniss became her
daughter in law.
No, Gale Hawthorne would never bring Katniss Everdeen to the slag heap, he
knew. When he imagined them making love it always happened at some beautiful
clearing in the woods and not in the cold muds in the defines of District 12.
But....

Everything would turn out differently.
***** At the slag heap *****
Chapter Summary
     Peeta and Gale meet at an unlikely place.
Chapter Notes
     This story starts after The Hunger Games but before Catching Fire,
     during the six months when Katniss and Peeta ignore each other, but
     she and Gale meet.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
The ground is frozen and the first snowflakes of the year are slowly sailing
down on District 12, creating little hats on the slag hills.
Becca didn't want to go today, it's late, she told him, she feels tired, so
much work at the cleaners tomorrow. He is annoyed that she denied him, but
honestly, he can't blame her much. Everyone knows he is in love with Katniss,
even Becca. They all pity him and throw him meaningful looks when they talk
about the victors. The star-crossed lovers of District 12. He's not her cousin.
He's not. He met Laika Carrowshead on the way back to his house and they talked
for a while.
"Gale," she had said softly. "My husband is down at the Hob. Dead drunk. Do you
want some company? For old times sake?"

"Yeah, Laika, yeah," he murmured and took her hands guiding her over to their
hill near to the unofficial entrance, a hole, ripped into the fence.
===============================================================================
 
He nuzzles her hair and breathes in her scent and for a few minutes he forgets
that he hates this life and that he hates the Capitol and most of all hates
himself for letting his girl get out of his grasp, for not confessing his love
to her sooner.

He stares at the snowy sky above him as Laika rides him to completion and he
finally comes with a silent groan, feeling nothing but an uncomfortable
emptiness. Laika rearranges her dress as quickly as she can, then stands up
slowly. She is shivering and he watches as she offers him her hand, so thin and
ghostly. He shakes his head, no.

"Go ahead," he says. "Don't wanna raise suspicion, do we?"
He tries to sound funny, but somehow it sounds hollow and weak. Laika shrugs
and disappears into the darkness of the night.

Gale lights one of the cigarettes the foreman spread out a few days ago.
Capitol cigarettes. For the victorious District 12. What a joke. He takes a
deep drag, enjoying the tabacco aroma despite it all, when he hears a girlish
giggle from behind the hill. It's fucking freezing out here, so who in their
right state of mind would visit the deserted slag heap now?

"You've never been here before?" a female voice says and Gale props himself up,
prepares to leave, not interested in witnessing some kiddy couple fucking for
the first time.

"No," a male answers, with a voice he knows, a familiar voice. "Merchants
usually don't come here."

"Can't really believe that, handsome lad like you" the girl giggles, echoing
Caesar Flickerman, that weird Capitol mc. "So….you and Katniss Everdeen haven't
fucked?"

A pause. Then after a while the male voice answers, "No, we haven't. She….no."

Gale can't believe it. He crouches on the ground and peers around the hill.
There is no mistaking it.

It's him. Peeta Mellark. With a girl he doesn't recognize. She has dark hair,
so she's probably from the Seam, but he can't make out much more in the
darkness.

"She's probably fucking Gale Hawthorne. Her cousin, you know," the unknown girl
muses, and Gale's heart skips a beat. The girl's voice is rude, mocking even.
Everyone knows that Gale is not Katniss Everdeen's cousin. What the hell is
this?

"Yeah," he offers quietly. "She probably is."

Gale feels his anger rising. Why is Mellark agreeing with this girl? Why is he
even out here? What's his deal?

"You know, I would have really preferred to do this in your house in the
Victor's Village. More comfortable and most importantly warm."

Mellark does not answer for a while and then says, "We had a deal, Mia." He
moves closer and kisses the girl on the mouth.

Gale remembers that name, Mia. She's a Seam girl in the same year as Katniss
and Peeta Mellark, maybe in their class? Katniss doesn't talk to girls much,
but for some reason he remembers this one as her and Katniss' hair is the same
length. Mia… she even tried to ask him out one day. Katniss had been with him
and looked sour, annoyed, when Mia touched his arm. But that might've been his
imagination. Katniss doesn't like him that way. She likes Peeta Mellark. Who is
making out with some slutty girl at the slag heap in the middle of a school
night. Gale grits his teeth.

Mia pushes Peeta away, breaking their kiss.

"Yes, yess...lover boy. No need to get aggressive." She turns around and Gale
gets a better look at her. She wears trousers and not a skirt, unusual for
girls in District 12. Her hair is braided, lying over her shoulder. She's
smaller than Katniss, her body all wrong. No, this girl is nothing like
Katniss. So why?

"The way you act, you seem pretty inexperienced to me. Almost like you're a
virgin," Mia laughs and empathizes the word virgin as if it is something dirty.
Everything here feels wrong to Gale. It's dark but he can see that Peeta is
flushing red. The blond merchant boy steps closer to Mia and grabs her
shoulders.

"Stop talking," he says and kisses her again, hard, his hands squeezing the
girl's meager breasts.

Suddenly it all makes sense to Gale. Mia is right about Peeta Mellark. He went
to the slag heap tonight to get rid of his inexperience. To lose his innocence.
With a girl that's not Katniss. He is recreating some scenario that obviously
makes sense to him, but is false. More than false. Katniss' heart would break
if she knew this. Gale fists the melted mud on the ground, feels the heat flare
up within him.

Peeta chose not do this in his house in the Victor's Village because he doesn't
want Katniss to know. In reality, Gale's heart should sing with joy. He should
let them fuck and tell Katniss all about what he witnessed here tonight. He
doubts that she'll ever want to be with Mellark again, if she knows about this.
But then he imagines the hurt on Katniss' face and knows he can't do it. It
won't make Katniss magically love him, it'll only make her sad. And he doesn't
want her to be sad. His Catnip. Already suffered so much.

Peeta belongs to Katniss. He is hers. A sudden surge of possessiveness
overcomes Gale. This feels familiar. Familiar to the day at the Hob, when
Darius wanted to trade kisses with Katniss.

This boy out there, he does belong to Katniss. His innocence belongs to
Katniss. His love is for her and not for some sick, rude imitation. Gale
springs to his feet, circles around the hill and runs over to them.

He grabs Peeta by the shoulder and pushes him to the ground behind him, sees
the baker's hand being ripped away from Mia's bared tits. The girl shrieks and
covers herself with her skinny arms. "Are you crazy?" she screams, her voice
high pitched.

"Get lost, Mia," Gale growls. Her eyes flicker to Peeta, a questioning look in
her hazel eyes. Even her eyes are wrong.
Mia buttons up her shirt reluctantly and then looks at Gale. "I had a deal with
him." She cocks her head towards Peeta.

"Whatever the deal, it's up. Now leave before I forget myself." Mia looks
scared, and then angrily spits before Gale's feet, and starts shouting "You're
all crazy anyway. Fuck you!" Then she turns and runs the same way Laika left a
few minutes ago.

Gale flies around and stares at the boy in the mud and weirdly enough the image
of Madge Undersee comes to his mind. How he imagined that blonde town girl
lying before him, offering herself to him. It makes his cock stir. Peeta
Mellark's blond wavy hair looks unruly, snowflakes caught in his long
eyelashes. His expression is one of shock, of a deer realizing it's not alone,
a predator is near. His lips are slightly blueish from the cold, wet and
swollen from kissing a fake Katniss. Gale growls again, a deep guttural sound,
still fuming. Why does he feel so betrayed by Mellark's actions? Where does all
this anger come from?

Peeta slowly gains control of his limbs and gets up. His hands are fisted, Gale
can clearly make out his white knuckles in the dark.

"Why did you do that?" he asks, not meeting his eyes.

"You have no business with this girl, Mellark," Gale's voice is still loaded,
loaded with emotion. "You have no business at the slag heap at all, do you
understand?"

"Why do you care what I do, Hawthorne?" Peeta's voice is cutting.

Why indeed.

"You're not betraying Katniss with some slut at the heap, s' as simple as
that," Gale tells him, knowing it's not simple at all. Peeta flushes red.

"And what about you? Am I supposed to think you decided to take a walk and
ended up here by chance? Because the night is so pretty and you love to watch
the stunning snowy scenery of the slag heap?"

Now it is Gale's turn to flush. There is some double standard working here, he
knows. He doesn't want Peeta at the slag heap, but is an eager visitor of the
place himself. Just a few moments ago he fucked Laika, a married woman, and he
doesn't feel like he's betraying Katniss. He never felt like he betrayed
Katniss. It's unfair, he knows, deep inside, he knows. But Peeta, he shouldn't
be here. Gale feels a bit of tension leaving his body.

"Listen, Mell..Peeta. I'm not saying you're wrong about me. But…I've been here
before. Before Katniss….and it's different for me. Katniss, she likes you. She
would be hurt." The words sound weak, in a way. Like he has given up on her. On
them ever being more than friends.

Peeta obviously also feels confused at his words, shakes his head.

"I'm not exactly sure why you need me to tell you this, but Katniss is not in
love with me. She has made her choice long before we were even in the Games
together. You….honestly, you have nothing to fear from me."

He's frustrating, this blond town boy. Why can't he see that Katniss looks at
Peeta differently, that Katniss' dark grey eyes become as soft as the pussy
willows from the woods, when she talks about him. It would be cute, if it
didn't hurt so much.

"I would appreciate if you'd not interrupt my affairs again," Peeta continues,
while Gale's anger returns. "This night… tonight was important to me. I needed
that."

Peeta turns around to leave, but Gale grabs his arm again, dragging him back
beneath the heap until they are standing within a half a foots length of one
another, Gale looking down at Peeta who is a head smaller, much smaller than
him. The same height as his Catnip.

"Promise me that you won't meet Mia, or any other girl for that matter, again,"
he demands, fascinated by the boy's long blond eyelashes.

"Are you kidding me?," Peeta rolls his eyes at him. "I won't promise. It's none
of your business what I do."

Gale growls and squeezes Mellark's arm harder.
"Promise!" he almost shouts, the sound dampened by the snow. He knows he is
going about this the wrong way, but he has no idea, what to do or what to say
to make Peeta give up his plan. How can he? If Peeta decides to take a merchant
girl to his house, he has no influence. He can't watch him all the time. But
then Peeta Mellark doesn't seem to want a busty, blonde town girl in his fluffy
bed. He wants the darkness of the Seam, at the dead of night at the slag heap.

"No," Peeta says calmly, unaffected by Gale's outbursts, "Stop shouting at me.
Are you really that dense? You won, okay? You're the one she wants. Do you
think I would be here if I didn't believe that? So stop your holier than thou
attitude and leave me be."

Maybe Peeta got his heart broken by Katniss? Just as Gale had his heart broken.
Could it be that Katniss rejected the baker's son? What he doesn't seem to get
is that he was also rejected. Katniss didn't choose Gale, but he still has the
pleasure of her company. They meet every Sunday. She told him she hadn't much
contact with Peeta, but he didn't believe her.

"What were you doing here tonight, Peeta?" Gale asks, still gripping the bakers
wiry biceps.

"Isn't it obvious? I wanted, no, I needed some relief. An escape from
everything that's happened to me in the last months," Peeta's voice is tired,
lost.

"Do you have any idea how exhausting it is to live a lie? To pretend all the
time? To look happy, when all you feel is sadness? I wanted something real for
myself. Blame me if you want, but maybe, just maybe I am simply a human being,
too. A man with needs."

Gale nods. This much he can understand. He's doing the same thing, in a way.
And he doesn't have to pretend, he is allowed to be angry, everyone is
sympathetic to his feelings. Peeta's blue eyes stare up at him, and he feels
himself melting at the boy's pain. But then, he still can't allow Peeta to fuck
a girl that's not Katniss.

He doesn't know why, but while Peeta and Mia having sex does feel like a
betrayal, imagining Peeta and Katniss doing it, doesn't. Once the thought of
Peeta and Katniss together enters Gale's consciousness he can't seem to get rid
of it. It fits, the light blond of Peeta Mellark, his pale skin and muscly arms
holding Katniss' thin dark form. They would kiss softly, sweetly and then it
would get more passionate by the minute, with Peeta's strong hands massaging
her little breasts, teasing her nipples. Her braid snaking down her bared back,
caressing her skin. Little soft noises would leave her mouth and Peeta would
answer with deep pants, her name on his lips.

It's not wrong, it's right and if he can't be Katniss' first Peeta Mellark
should be.

"Is it true," Gale's voice is deeper now, more manly, "what Mia said?"

Peeta seems to understand immediately what he is alluding to, by the way his
cheeks glow. He looks away and nods.

"What have you done so far?" Gale asks gently.

"Kissed a few girls. And touched…them a bit," Peeta sighs.  "What you've seen
me and Mia do was the farthest I got with a girl."

He is surprised that Peeta answers at all, surprised at how openly he admits
these things to him.

"And with Katniss?" Gale moves closer, feeling Peeta's hot breath on his chest
as he answers.

"Only kissing," Peeta's voice quivers. "You've seen it on television. That was
all."

Gale believes him, and still feels the need to probe deeper.

"You sure? Haven't seen her naked?"

"No, no. Not naked." Peeta shakes his head. His breathing becomes faster,
produces little clouds that meet Gale's nipples, and somehow the nubs begin to
harden.

Looking down he makes out a bulge, Peeta's pants appear a little tented. Is
that because of Mia? But the girl left a while ago. Peeta is hard. And so is
Gale. The fact alone should send him reeling away in repulsion, let the town
boy make acquaintance with his fist, present him with a black eye. Never before
did Gale get hard because of a boy. 'It's because of Catnip', he muses, 'only
because I envisioned him with Catnip.'

Instead of doing something violent, like every instinct is telling him to, he
does something tender. Leans down and, for the first time in his life, kisses a
boy on the lips.

Peeta is smaller and leaning down to kiss is hauntingly familiar, he's done it
a thousand times. It's freezing, but the boy's lips are balmy and soft. His
scent is a warm scent, the scent of freshly baked bread and it makes Gale's
stomach churn.

And then they are kissing for real, and he's not thinking of Katniss at all,
lost in the sensation of the kiss. By claiming Peeta's mouth, he is marking his
territory. That's what it feels like. He only comes to his senses when Peeta
embraces his midriff and starts to buck his hips against his leg, makes him
feel his erection, a barely audible moan escaping his lips. His pants tighten
in response and he pulls away, only to stare at Peeta who stares back, mind in
turmoil. Big question marks seem to shine in Peeta's eyes, and what comes out
of his mouth is asked so quietly that Gale almost doesn't catch it.

"What are you doing?"  

He wants to answer  'Staking my claim' but stops himself.

Peeta looks confused, and young, oh so young. How must this look from his
perspective? The baker's boy is quite innocent, and Gale remembers these days.
The days when you get easily aroused, no way of controlling it, you can't help
it, it just happens. It would be wrong to take advantage of that. Peeta came
here tonight with a clear intention. He has never been with a girl, never got
his nipples teased, never tasted the sweetness of a girl's pussy, got his cock
sucked or felt that wonderful tight clenching when a girl comes undone during
sex.

"Listen," he starts, scared about what he is about to say, cock still begging
for attention,  "You're not going to meet with a girl again. If you....if you
feel needy, you will come to me."
 
They are still embracing and he feels Peeta shudder and gaze into his eyes for
a few seconds, open and vulnerable. "To you?"

"To me," Gale concurs. " I will teach you what you need to know. Are we clear?
No girls for you," Gale hesitates and then adds softly, "No girls, but
Katniss."

Peeta's eyes grow dark at that. "Katniss does not want me," he says, and there
is no self-pity in his voice, only acceptance.

"We'll see," Gale replies pushing a golden curl from the blond's forehead,
while his other hand reaches towards Peeta's crotch. His hand gently cups
Peeta's groin, strokes over it slowly, once, twice; until Peeta twitches, makes
a sound that is a mixture between pleasure and pain, a sound so honest and pure
it makes him pull his palm away as if torched.

Gale takes a step backward, while Peeta instinctively surges his hip forward,
searching for Gale's hand again.

Gale is unsure about this plan of his, uncertain about the situation,
bewildered by his body's reaction to another guy. He takes another step back
and Peeta stops following, arms falling to his sides in a defeated motion.
However then he sees Peeta reaching for him, opening his mouth, the lips
forming his name "Gale" but he is panicking, overwhelmed at his own bravado. He
can't stay at the heap a second longer. He turns around and runs away, to the
hole in the fence and crawls right through it, scrambles up and dashes towards
the direction of the Seam at the other end of the mining facilities. Running so
fast he can barely breathe, painfully aware that he is still hard, only
thinking about the things he has done at the slag heap since he was thirteen
and about the thing he did for the first time on this cold winter night.
===============================================================================


When Gale leaves Hazelle and his siblings to go to work the next morning his
foremost emotion is relief. His mother treated him the same when she prepared
the breakfast for his siblings. Hazelle has a habit of reading her son's
emotions, can look right through him. He imagines she is capable of seeing that
he did something shameful last night. When he arrived in their small hut,
everyone was already deeply asleep. It was only a few minutes to midnight and
they don't have running water in the house so a bath was out of the question.
He barely was able to calm down and fell into an uneasy sleep. He left the
house without having breakfast, knowing his growing brothers need it more than
he does. He is used to going to work with a growling stomach.

For the first time he welcomes it, the dark of the mines, the cold and wet, and
the physical labor. It makes it easier to forget what happened at the slag
heap. But then his thoughts always return to Peeta Mellark and the fact that he
did kiss him. And he cannot blame the baker's boy, because he wasn't the one
who initiated it, it was him, and he is scared. Scared of the offer he made to
Peeta. Scared that Peeta will take him on it. Scared that he won't. He weighs
the words carefully in his mind, the words he said to Peeta. It wasn't really
an offer, he knows that. He practically ordered Peeta to come to him, forbid
him to go the heap, and whoever Peeta Mellark is, he doesn't seem like someone
who is that easily conquered. In the Games he ran with the careers to protect
Katniss. Peeta always seemed to have a plan. It must have been the hormones,
Gale decides. Peeta had been hot for Mia and he gave the boy an outlet.

The days go on, like they always do and he doesn't see or hear a thing from
Peeta Mellark. Sunday comes around and during their hunting he almost asks
Katniss about Peeta, but is afraid of what she'll tell him. He insists on
bringing her back to her house in the Victor's Village, and she seems glad. He
told her before that he didn't want to be in a Capitol house and Katniss looked
disappointed at his words. But he can't help it. He hates the Capitol with all
his heart and can't stand the fact that his Catnip has a connection to this
place. Her house in the Victor's Village only reinforces the fact to him, so he
cannot go there. She offers him tea, but he shakes his head, no, and turns
around to leave. There is a house directly opposite to Katniss'. It's the only
one with a running chimney so he assumes it is Mellark's. The blinds are drawn
though and he can't be sure. Gale wants to go and knock on the door, but
decides against it. Katniss is watching from her kitchen window, giving him an
unsure wave. What would she think if he knocks on Mellark's door?

He meets Becca on the way back, has a feeling she has been loitering around his
house for a while. He rejects her advances if only because he has just spent
his whole day with Catnip and doesn't want to taint that. When he opens the
door to his family's house a familiar scent wafts into his nostrils. Bread.

"Gale, Gale, look!" Vick is jumping up and down, pointing at the table. There
is bread there, good hearty nut and raisin bread, two thick loaves. And
cinnamon rolls, too. His siblings are ecstatic, Posy licking her thin little
fingers, wet from the frosting while Rory chews on a roll. They never had
cinnamon rolls before.

"Peeta Mellark brought this over," Hazelle says and gives him a sharp look that
makes him wince.

"What did he want?" he asks, hoping to sound casual.

"He didn't say," Hazelle answers. "But I think that he didn't get what he was
looking for."

"Mmhh," Gale says, not sure what to reply. She knows that Peeta had been
looking for him, of course. Even if Peeta didn't say it. Hazelle doesn't touch
the food, but allows her children to share it between them. Gale doesn't have
the heart to ask her why. She doesn't think it's poisoned, but obviously has
problems with the gift.

Gale comes back from the mines two days later and finds his siblings munching
away on apple pie. The day after that they are presented with a hearty dark
onion bread, and when he returns from another 12 hour shift on Thursday,
Hazelle is waiting for him on the porch, a basket with muffins in her arms.

"This needs to stop, Gale," she says sharply before he can even greet her.
"Whatever is going on, you have to talk to Peeta Mellark."
She looks troubled and he thinks he knows why. It's not pride, even though it
plays some part in this. It's because Peeta might just simply stop bringing
gifts the next day and her children won't understand why. They are already
getting used to it, talking about the baked treats all the time, wondering
what's next. He nods. It seems that a confrontation is in order.

When he comes back from the mines on Friday he takes a short cold bath and
dresses in his hunting clothes. Then he makes his way to the Victor's Village.
Maybe he can enter Peeta's house from the back, so that Katniss won't see him.

But he doesn't even get that far as he almost runs into Peeta at the edge of
the Seam. They eye each other suspiciously and Gale suddenly feels the need to
say something rude to the baker's son. Peeta's eyes twinkle, barely visible
under the flickering streetlights. Then his face breaks into a gentle smile as
he obviously tries to think of a good opening. He has a small bag in his arms,
and Gale can smell the freshly made bread on him.

"If you have something to say, come to me, Mellark," he growls. "Stop harassing
my family."
As soon as the words leave his mouth, he regrets them. Peeta's face falls.
Whatever he expected, this is obviously not it. He wants to apologize, but
Peeta's expression hardens.

"Fine," he replies coldly.  "I'm not bothering them again. Here is what I came
to say. I'm agreeing to your terms."

Gale feels a rush of fear and excitement from hearing these words, a shudder of
anticipation runs straight through him. Peeta's blue eyes meet his and he
continues, his manner all business.

"I'm here because I want us to go to the slag heap. Together."
Chapter End Notes
     Could it really be? Is Gale Hawthorne a closet….. Everlark shipper?
***** In Peeta Mellark's house *****
Chapter Summary
     Peeta and Gale get closer. Gale is conflicted by his feelings for the
     baker's son and his love for Katniss Everdeen.
Chapter Notes
     Hello, dear readers. Here, have another chapter of The Lark's
     Awakening. Thank you for your sweet comments, support and kudos.
     Please remember this story is M/M. Don't like, don't read!
The last men he has seen naked are miners. There are showers in the miners
building, running water.  Cold, but after the grueling shifts every miner could
clean themselves before going home. The shower lasted only a minute or so and
there was no soap. These showers barely helped to wash the coal dust away, did
not soothe or clean at all. Not that he had looked at the others. He didn't
care about naked coal miners. He left those showers hours ago. Went back home
and into bed with his siblings. Shortly before midnight he crept out of their
little hut in the Seam. If his family would wake to find him gone, they'd
probably assume he went to the slag heap with Becca or some other girl.

To the slag heap he went.
For three weeks now, he went every night.

But not with a girl.

Peeta brought some blankets with him and is waiting beneath a little heap
farther south, lighting some candles so Gale can find him in the dark. The kids
usually don't come in this far, so Gale suggested this area and the late hour.
Getting caught would be disastrous. For both of them.

Peeta had been on the wrestling team, he told Gale about it and even showed him
some moves. He has probably seen loads of naked guys, Gale assumes. He doesn't
want to, but staring at Peeta Mellark's cock…it is natural that he begins to
compare it to his own, right? And even though he hates the thought he feels a
little smug that his cock is larger than Peeta's.
He grins to himself, but then falters. Peeta is younger maybe still growing?
Did he stop growing at sixteen? He doesn't remember.

And there is another thing that leaves him confused. The baker's sons groin is
covered with very soft looking blond pubic hair. It looks kind of strange,
though. Soft and sparse.

"What happened to your pubes?" he asks and points to Peeta's groin. Suddenly he
remembers the baker's middle boy…Art…, no, Ari Mellark. Peeta's older brother,
who could have been Peeta's twin. Actually the Mellark brothers looked like
triplets, and more than often people only knew who was who by their size. Ari
Mellark had been in Gale's class and him he had seen naked in the school
showers. He had bushy pubic hair, as far as he remembers.

"Why?" Peeta likes to answer questions with counter questions. He doesn't
really trust him completely, even though they spent so much time together now.
Gale bites his lip. He wouldn't trust himself either.

"They look weird, s'all," Gale grumbles.

Peeta's eyes drift behind Gale's left ear and Gale thinks he won't answer. He
probably insults Peeta with his words. Since they began with their little
meetings he often feels like he is hurting him.

However Peeta always returns. Tonight is the first night they planned to do
more than talk and dry humping. If he wants to continue this, he probably
shouldn't be so rude to the town boy, but he is honestly curious about it.

"The Capitol is what happened to me, Gale," Peeta finally sighs.

What is that supposed to imply? Peeta doesn't elaborate, so he probes again.

"And that means?" he asks, impatient.

Peeta always acts as if he's too stupid to understand. In that, he reminds him
of Katniss and her Capitol stories. She talks to him like he is a ticking time
bomb. Waiting to explode. Like he wouldn't understand, no matter what. She
barely mentions it anymore, and changes topic as soon as he tries to ask more.

"In the Capitol," Peeta says reluctantly, "The tributes get their body hair
removed. Everywhere."

Gale can't help but inspect Peeta's soft member, shriveled in the cold.

"Seriously?" he asks, not understanding where the sense in that lies.

"Yes," Peeta says. "And mine is growing back now, so sorry for lacking in that
department. Wait a while and maybe you'll like it better in summer. By the way,
my eyes are up here."

Peeta is grinning now and he can't help but grin back. For a moment he even
forgets that these are weird Capitol customs. Is curious about the whole
procedure of hair removal and then he has a thought that goes straight to his
groin.

Katniss' pussy. Completely bare.

"Peeta," he whispers now and moves closer. "What about Catnip? Did they remove
her hair, too?"

Before Peeta can even formulate some sort of answer he spits in his hand and
takes Peeta's cock in his wet fist.

"Oh," Peeta moans slowly, "Yes, yes…they did."

The thought does him in. Katniss Everdeen without any hair between her legs.
There would be no chance for modesty, no trace of the dark fur he always
imagines she shares with the other Seam girls. He licks his lips. This is hot.
Licking her sweet bared lips, slowly, steadily. The thought is almost enough to
make him come on the spot.

"Tell me about it," he whispers into Peeta's ear. But Peeta doesn't seem to
understand.

"I told you, I haven't actually…seen her..n..naked," he shudders and circles
his hips to meet Gale's hand. Gale groans.

"Who cares," he says deeply and presses small, wet kisses along Peeta's left
earshell, up and down, while imagining Katniss' slit.

"Important lesson for you. Sex mostly happens in your head. Ever heard of
fantasies? What do you think of when you jerk off?"

Peeta hesitates and then admits what Gale knew all along. "Kat..Katnissss…" he
groans.

"Yeah, that's right." Gale nods and continues his jerking motions. "But not
only her beautiful eyes, am I right? Didn't you ever wonder what she looked
like down there?"

"All the time," Peeta pants and Gale grins. This is common ground for them.

"Can I touch you, too?"

Gale nods and lets Peeta take him out of his pants and in his strong hand. It
is really cold down here, but at the moment he doesn't mind.

Peeta moves closer and Gale understands immediately. Since they first started
this, Peeta always insists on kissing before they do anything else. He's not
entirely sure why, and Peeta doesn't tell him either. Shortly after they
started to meet he was still reluctant, unsure. He refused to kiss Peeta at
their first meeting and Peeta got upset, told him he could put his offer where
the sun don't shine if he didn't agree to Peeta's terms as well. He had been
shocked and a little afraid that Peeta would go and tell people about their
meetings and then agreed. He is still unsure about the details of their
arrangement to a certain degree. But kissing Peeta isn't bad. Not bad at all.

Firstly Peeta always tastes sweet. Having changed bodily fluids with girls from
the Seam who hardly ate and showered once in a blue moon, he is used to less
then perfect tastes. Peeta is different. He tastes like cinnamon, dill and
fresh flour. Once they started kissing, it was hard to stop. Gale found himself
craving it. Thinking about the boy, daydreaming about exchanging pleasure
during the long hours in the mines. Counting the minutes until he would see
Peeta again. Loving their kisses so much more than the ones he shared with his
earlier conquests.  He even began to dismiss Becca's advances and Laika's
flirty looks.

They kiss and touch and while he wants to talk about Katniss and her sweet
pussy his thoughts drift. Away to Peeta. Peeta Mellark and his hot kisses.
Peeta Mellark, warm and soft. Solid. And even though Gale doesn't like to admit
it, he is fun to be around. When they are not kissing they tell each other
funny stories or wrestle around. The wrestling matches usually result in hard-
on's and furious dry humping.

This is much more fun. While he nips at Peeta's lower lips and they jerk each
other off, he thinks of nothing but Peeta. They both come, Peeta first and he
shortly after. He doesn't have to tell Peeta many things about touching him,
they are both boys after all. They know what works in getting off. Gale takes a
small towel that Peeta brought with him to clean them both and then he presses
another short kiss on Peeta's lips. When he pulls away he sees that the town
boy's lips are slightly blueish.

"You're cold," he states unnecessarily. Peeta's teeth chatter in answer.

"Up you go," says Gale and puts Peeta's trousers back in place. He then draws
one of the extra blankets around Peeta's shoulders, feeling weirdly protective.
Like when he is caring for one of his brothers. He dresses himself, careful not
to meet Peeta's eyes.

"I'd like to offer you a cigarette, but I'm out..." he says, breaking the
uncomfortable silence they often share after coming.

"Don't worry," Peeta says, opening his arms slightly. "Won't you share the
blanket with me?"

"Can't," Gale answers. "Gotta go, you know. I need my beauty sleep." What he
isn't saying is that he needs his sleep because he must be at the mines at 7
a.m. sharp. And he needs to sleep, at least a few hours a night. Victor Peeta
can sleep in until the afternoon, if he wants to.

"Gale," Peeta begins, and Gale knows what's coming.

"I gotta go, Peeta," he says urgently but leans down to caress the boy's
cheeks, red from the cold. Or are they red from coming? Peeta looks so damn
adorable like this and Gale feels a strong sense of pride that he can get his
boy off so fast.

When did he start thinking like this? It's only been three weeks. He leans down
and gives Peeta a slow and wet kiss goodbye. Another erection is forming
already, so he pulls away quickly, leaving a thin band of saliva between them.

"Did you think about it?" Peeta asks again.

"Mmmh," he answers, not confirming and not denying. "I know, it's much more
comfortable, but…"

"I don't think there is another option, at least in winter," Peeta insists.
They have spoken about this a lot. But Gale is reluctant.

"But if someone actually sees me…I don't know. It is risky. I don't want you to
get sick, but I'd rather we stay here."

"Gale, if this is about Katniss…"

"It's not." He says this but it's a lie. They both know it's a lie.

"She doesn't come. Not her, not my family, not Haymitch," Peeta explains again,
repeating the same facts over and over.
"She never sat a foot in my house. No one comes to visit, no one. Please
believe me."

The sad look in Peeta's eyes betrays the truth in his words. No one visits. No
one.

"Okay," he decides, "but only if you have fruit cake ready for me."

The smile that breaks out on Peeta's red face makes him hopeful.  Might be that
meeting Peeta in the Victor's Village is a big mistake. But right now he is
willing to try.

"I'll keep the back door to the kitchen open for you," Peeta says, a satisfied
smile visible on his face.
"Let yourself in, you can come any time you want."
===============================================================================


It takes another three days before he works up the courage to go.
===============================================================================


Halfway there, he changes his mind and turns around, back to the Seam.
Frustrated by his inability to decide, if he really wants this.
===============================================================================


After having no contact with Peeta for almost a week, Sunday arrives. It's
freezing cold, this winter a harsh one for the District. Hunting is hard in
these cold days, even the squirrels rarely showing their bushy tails in their
trees. The sun is weak and barely visible behind the shady clouds when he
checks the snares. He's not sure if Katniss will come today. She doesn't have
to . She doesn't need to hunt, and if he's honest, her skills with the bow and
arrow have deteriorated since she returned from the Games. He told her hunting
humans can't be too different compared to hunting animals. He still believes
that. But in Katniss' eyes there lies another truth. The Hunger Games made her
overthink the hunt. Now that she doesn't need to kill a deer to survive, she
seems to almost think the animals have a soul. After they shot a deer a few
weeks ago, she mumbled something about Rue and the paleness in her face didn't
go away until they finally made it back to her house.

When he turns into the clearing near their tree he sees her, small, lithe and
beautiful. She seems to be lost in thought, as she doesn't react when he
approaches her.

"Catnip?" he says but she doesn't freeze. So she heard him after all. Her eyes
meet his and start to shine.

"Gale," she whispers, smiling at him, and it makes his stomach do a happy
dance. He is not sure what to think. Katniss never smiled at Peeta like this,
at least not on camera. Her smiles, always dazzling to the audience. But people
who really knew her, like Gale or her family could see that this wasn't the
real Katniss Everdeen. If Peeta had actually known Katniss he might've realized
earlier that Katniss wasn't genuine. Or was she? Gale doesn't know. When he is
alone with Katniss and they joke easily together, fall into their usual rhythm
of hunting and talking he almost forgets that he and Peeta Mellark are
essentially..seeing each other? Dating? Jerking each other off? What exactly is
this relationship about? Licking their wounds?
'Katniss and I don't talk'


These are the words Peeta told him and he can't help it, he just has to make
sure.

Katniss is inspecting some walnuts that lie forgotten beneath a bush, when he
clears his throat.

"How are things at home?" he opens with a fairly normal question, so she won't
go defensive right away.

She doesn't look at him, but answers,
"Pretty good. Prim got an A in biology class. She wrote a ten page paper on
goats, can you believe it?" Katniss chuckles.
"Mother, well, she's better these days. She loves the house. I think, it
reminds her of her merchant days. She asked me about opening a small practice
in one of the rooms, but I don't think the Ca…"

Katniss stops. Oh, here we go again. The Capitol.

"I don't think it's a good idea," Katniss says instead, showing him what he
immediately recognizes as a forced smile. More than often, she is pretty easy
to read. Like Peeta.

"What about your neighborhood? Enjoying cozy tea times with the other victors?"

Katniss looks at him sharply, but he works hard at keeping his face neutral.

"Mmh..no," she says, and brushes a few leaves out of her way. Obviously
uncomfortable now.

"Come on, Catnip. Don't tell me you haven't ever been curious. Don't you
remember the dares from back when we were kids? Like going into Haymitch's
house and steal something so that you could prove you went in?"

These tests of courage had been popular when he was smaller, back when only
Haymitch lived in the Victor's Village. Gale never went, but he remembers a few
boys who did and returned with random items of the house, bragging about
stealing a cushion or a fork.

"Oh, yes," Katniss laughs again, " I remember that! Oh, I've got to tell
Haymitch and ask him if he ever noticed stuff that went missing!"

"So you meet Haymitch…" he says.

"I've been to his house a few times," Katniss nods, in a good mood. It's now or
never.

"And what about your other neighbor? Visit him often, do you?" he tries to ask
this as casually as possible, but Katniss' body tenses up immediately.

"No. I told you before. We…we don't meet."

"You honestly never went into his house?" Let's see, if Peeta was for real, he
thinks.

"Why should I?" Katniss stands up, finished with her search for nuts.

"Let me guess. He's the star-crossed love of your life. Might be that you're
interested in his living arrangements."

Katniss doesn't even muster to hide the pain in her expression.

"I never went into Peeta's house, Gale. And..he is…he is…" she stutters, "not
the love of my life…"

Peeta is right. They don't meet. They don't talk. And he, he still has the
pleasure of meeting Katniss, week after week. While Peeta is all alone. For a
while he doesn't say a thing. He wants to kiss Katniss again. Like he did a few
weeks ago. Wants to tell her that he is still interested, that they could be
more.

"If I ask nicely, would you let me kiss you?" he mumbles and her face turns
into a grimace.

"Please don't," she whispers, her braid caught in a wind gust from the east.

He still wants her. So much it hurts.

He still desires her. So much it makes him afraid.

Somehow he also knows that this is not what Katniss wants or needs. And he
can't force her to.

"Why do you think did the Mellarks not move into the Victor's Village?"

Katniss looks at him, frowning. This was probably not the follow up she
expected. It's common knowledge that the Mellarks stayed at the bakery.

"Probably because they have that town house and couldn't well abandon it,"
Katniss muses. "It's different for them. They are not Seam, like us."

Gale knows what Katniss is doing. After rejecting the kiss, she is trying to
soothe his ego. Drawing a strict line between Peeta Mellark and both of them.
While he might have appreciated this earlier, it only annoys him this time.
Katniss and Peeta are more of a unit than Katniss and Gale have ever been.
Forever bounded to one another through the Games. And where does that leave
Gale?

"You're not Seam anymore, don't fool yourself," he cuttingly says and looks
away. He knows he's hurting her, but he can't help it. Why does everything has
to be so complicated?

Katniss doesn't say much after that and they return to the fence, the air tense
between them. He waves goodbye and turns to walk into the direction of the Hob,
when Katniss grabs his arm.

"See you next Sunday?" her voice sounds unsure, afraid of abandonment. That
will never happen. No matter what.

"Of course, Catnip," he answers and gives her a short hug. "See you."

He walks away then, drops off some meat at home and continues to the Hob where
he trades the rest of their haul. He has some money left and turns around to
look at some of the stalls. Then spots Laika's husband, a lanky coal miner,
sitting at the small bar drinking the cheapest liquor they sell. Poor Laika.
Barely 21 and already having a drunk for a husband. There are rumors that the
guy is not meeting his quota at the mines. Might be that Laika has a bleak
future, might be that when her husband won't be able to handle the grueling
work anymore his wife has to pick up the slack. For a woman in District 12
there ain't many options. Not only Cray has a taste for a hot blooded Seam
girl, others would pay as well.

Gale stares at the coins in his hands. Maybe he should ask Becca to marry him.
She would say yes, he's sure of it. She also seems to be the faithful type. But
spending the rest of his life in the mines, making babies with Becca is not how
he imagined his future to be. He wants more, wants out. And he wants Katniss. A
small part of him can admit that he even wants Peeta. While getting Katniss
seems to become more like an impossible dream, he actually seems to have Peeta
to a certain extent. He neglected the boy this last week. Should he visit him
at his house tonight?

"Hey, Hawthorne," Laika's husband yells, "Wanna join us for a drink?" He points
to some other miner and Gale doesn't hesitate. He has enough of being
responsible and slips onto one of the bar stools. Might as well have a drink
tonight.
===============================================================================


The door is not locked. He pushes it open slowly, silently, not making any
noise. As soon as he enters the house, he knows he is alone. The hunter in him
feels it, Peeta isn't here. It's almost midnight, so he briefly wonders where
Peeta has gone to, that late. The kitchen is huge. There is a round table with
five chairs. It looks abandoned, like no one sits there. Ever. Where does Peeta
eat his meals? On the middle of the table is a fruit cake. Untouched. Gale
inches closer. No doubt this is the fruit cake Peeta promised him. He almost
giggles at the sight of it. It's cut already. Gale takes a piece and bites into
the soft pastry. Chewing, he can't help but notice that the cake is freshly
made. He wonders if Peeta made one, each day, anticipating his arrival. That
boy has too much time on his hand.

Now what? The cake is eaten, and Peeta is not here. He can't very well leave
now, that would be rude. He wishes he didn't eat it now, so Peeta wouldn't have
known that he came. He stays completely still, unsure what to do. He is light
headed, slightly drunk. Maybe he could lie down for a minute? No, falling
asleep here wouldn't be a good idea.

There is a noise, somebody is walking up the porch and opens the front door.
Maybe Katniss is sneaking around the house. Maybe both of them were lying and
she actually comes here every night. Sneaks into Peeta's bedroom, wherever that
is. Undresses herself slowly, and slips under the covers, waiting for him.
Opening her bare legs for him. Crazy hairless Capitol pair that they are.

Of course, it is not her.
Peeta is the only one making so much noise.

To Peeta's credit he doesn't scream when he turns on the light in the kitchen.
He winces when he sees Gale though.

"Gale..hey.." he says, startled, "I didn't expect you tonight."

"Why? You made cake," Gale says and points at the half eaten fruit cake.

Peeta's eyes grow large.
"Yes, well, I'm a baker. That's what I do."

This irks Gale. Peeta made the cake for him. But pretends otherwise.

"So it wasn't for me, then?"

"I didn't say that." Peeta slowly limps over to the kitchen sink and fills
himself a cup of water.

"Want a drink?"

"No."

"Okay." Peeta gulps down the water and then points to the table.

"Do you want to sit down?"

"No."

Peeta stares at Gale.

"Well, what do you want, then?"

"What do I want? It's you, that always wanted me to come over, Peeta." Gale
doesn't know, why he is getting so angry.
"Where were you?"

"Nowhere. You're acting strange. What is it with you tonight?" Peeta smiles
then, and Gale thinks he recognizes that smile. It's the one that Peeta uses
when a situation seems to get out of control. Perhaps often used at home, with
his parents.

What is it with him tonight? For one, he is drunk. And secondly, he is
heartsick. Katniss does not want him. She wants this boy here, for some reason.
This is all too much, all too crazy.

"Drop your pants, Peeta," he says. Peeta raises his eyebrows.

"Here?" He looks around the kitchen, amusement twinkling in his eyes. Gale
nods.

"I want to see you jerk off," he says deeply and licks his lips. He wasn't
aware that he wished to see this until he said it. Remembers their conversation
about Peeta's masturbatory fantasies.

"You can watch me, but let's go to the bedroom, okay?" Peeta makes a move to
the door that leads deeper into the house. Gale doesn't follow.

"Gale?"

He stares at the fruit cake on the table and then back at the baker's boy.

"Well, then forget it. Forget that I ever said a thing. And forget that I ever
made that stupid offer. Forget those last weeks, let's pretend they never
happened, okay? Let's go back to being strangers who dislike each other. The
Victory Tour is coming up. You can be with her, all the time. Can touch her,
kiss her. Have the chance to woo her."

He hates the way his voice cracks, hates the way a lone tear forces its way out
of his left eye. Stupid white liquor. Peeta looks at him, lost. He sees the
truth in the blond boy's eyes. Peeta will use this chance with Catnip. The same
way Gale is trying to use his chance every Sunday. Deep in his heart he knows
that Peeta will win this fight. That he lost in the very moment that Peeta and
Katniss became victors of the 74th Hunger Games.

Peeta is beside him now and takes him by the hand.

"Come with me," he says and he lets himself be lead through the dark house, up
the plushy staircase and into a room that turns out to be the bedroom.

"Sit," Peeta orders and Gale sits down on the bed. Taking his face into his
hands, Peeta leans down to kiss his cheeks, first the right one and then the
left one, catching the tear with his mouth. Then he kisses his nose, and
finally presses a soft kiss on his lips. When he pulls back, Peeta smiles
knowingly and Gale realizes that he smelled the white liquor on him, feels
caught and flushes red.

Peeta drops on his knees awkwardly. This must hurt, with the prosthetic. He
then strokes Gale's knee for a while, and Gale sniffles, locking his gaze to
Peeta's. Now what?

"Gale," Peeta begins, still stroking him through his pants. "Will you teach me
how to satisfy you?"

Maybe it's the white liquor, but he doesn't quite follow.

"Don't understand," he whispers.

"Show me how to pleasure you," Peeta drops his gaze, blushing, "with my mouth."

"But.." His head is spinning. This is wrong. So far, everything they did was
under the guise of pleasuring Katniss. This is how you kiss her, this is how
you touch her, this is how to get her off. They always talked about Katniss,
fantasized about her. While they jerked each other off, he described a female
body in great detail so that Peeta would know what to do. They don't get off to
the thought of the other. Do they? Peeta doesn't need to know how to pleasure a
guy orally. How to suck a cock. It feels wrong to teach him that. Peeta's hand
is cupping his groin now and most of the doubts he is harboring tumble down
like a house of cards.

"Do I really have to teach you? Just imagine Katniss doing it to you, and you
got it," he tries one last time, while the slight stirring turns into a full
blown erection. Peeta shakes his head.

"Show me," he repeats, placing a short kiss on his still clothed groin. Gale
pulls down his pants and underwear in one go and Peeta looks a bit afraid for
a  short second.

Gale smirks, "See…we better stop th.." And then Peeta begins to lick him,
starts by bathing his balls with his tongue and he forgets for a moment that he
is supposed to be the one who guides Peeta along. But Peeta doesn't need
instructions, not for this. He concentrates on the tip of Gale's erection, and
that's quite enough already. He is such a hard worker and begins to use his
hands, stroking along, while Gale plays with his locks, caressing his beautiful
light hair, but never putting pressure on it.

"Please, don't stop," he moans, barely able to stand the wonderful feeling.
Peeta is good. Almost as good as Laika, who had a lot of practice. Peeta closes
his lips around the tip, circles his tongue around, once, twice and a third
time. He stops, gives him a soft kiss on the head while he continues to massage
Gale's balls with his warm hand.

"I won't, don't worry," he licks along the underside of the shaft, "you can
come in my mouth, if you want to," and closes his mouth around Gale's cock
again.

"No, please, that's too much," Gale whimpers, "Don't..don't swallow."

But when Gale starts coming and tries to gently push Peeta away a few moments
later, Peeta holds his ground. Swallows all of his come.

Gale is still trying to catch his breath, and stares at Peeta who smiles at him
gently.

"That cannot taste good, gosh, I'm so sorry, I warned you.. didn't I, I'm
sorry." Most girls don't like to do this and Peeta must be disgusted. He can't
bear the thought of Peeta being disgusted with him. He pushes his arms under
Peeta's and pulls him up to sit beside him.

"Really, why did you? Lil' one, I'm so sorry," before he can even think he
kisses his boy deeply, tasting his remains on Peeta's lips. A sudden surge of
love and affection seems to build up in him, something weirdly painful that
seems to clench around his heart, something he never felt for any of the girls
he shared this with.

"It's okay, Gale, I wanted to." Peeta says, and leans against his shoulders. He
nods, still feeling warm. This was so wonderful. He doesn't even remember why
he felt so angry and sad earlier. Happiness makes him grin at Peeta now.

"What do you want me to do?" he says after a while, eager to return the favor.

"I'm tired, Gale. So tired," Peeta says, his voice barely audible, "I know, you
have to be at the mines at seven. But…would you stay with me until I fall
asleep?"

Peeta is full of surprises. He had wanted to satisfy him sexually, but that's
not what Peeta wishes for.

"Where were you earlier, Peeta?" he asks again, stroking the strong back of the
boy's shoulder.

"Here and there. I have trouble sleeping…and when you didn't come…usually I
wait until midnight and then walk around the District. To the bakery and back.
Around the town square, or the Victor's Village. Tonight I went for my walk
around eleven as I was sure you wouldn't come. It's Sunday, after all."

The day he and Katniss go hunting. Not believing he would come, but baking his
favorite cake anyway. Gale groans. Peeta is too nice. Too sweet. It makes
everything so much harder.

"Peeta, I'm sorry about earlier. What I said. I was a little drunk. I'll stay.
Go ahead, try to sleep."

Peeta nods, stands up and walks over to the bathroom. Gale undresses quickly
and slips under the blankets to warm them up. Peeta returns in his pajamas and
then slips in besides Gale.

"Do you have an alarm clock, or something? I have a feeling I won't wake up
early enough in a bed this comfy," Gale laughs.

Peeta nods and sets the alarm to five on some fancy digital clock on his night
stand.

"Thank you," he says, and snuggles closer, resting his head on Gale's torso.

It scarcely takes two minutes to make Peeta fall into a deep, dreamless slumber
with Gale Hawthorne in his bed.
***** A clearing in the woods *****
Chapter Summary
     Gale and Peeta's relationship becomes more complicated. A new head
     peacekeeper makes his first appearance in District 12.
Chapter Notes
     Hello dear readers. To be honest, I wanted to finish another PiP
     entry this week, but ended up working on The Lark's Awakening. I have
     so many ideas for this story, it's not even funny, so I decided to go
     with my muse and leave that PiP story for another day. :) Please
     enjoy Chapter 3, A clearing in the woods!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
"Watch Victors Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark on their Victory Tour. An
exclusive glimpse behind the scenes of the star-crossed lovers tour life and
all about Peeta's romantic proposal in front of a roaring crowd of competition
winners from the official Hunger Games fanclub. Revealing interviews with
Katniss' stylist Cinna, District 12's very own mentor Haymitch Abernathy and
Caesar Flickerman, who became close to the pair last year, are not the only
surprises waiting for you on this night's Capitol Boulevard with…."
Gale turns off the small TV set that is provided by the Capitol to every house
in the Seam. Electricity runs sporadically and mostly when the Capitol wants
people to watch their shows.

"Why did you turn it off, Gale?" Vick nags, "I wanted to watch Katniss on TV."

Posy pipes in, "Yes, why did you? Katniss is getting married! Wearing a
beautiful dress. White, with many, many flowers!" His little sister
gesticulates by opening her arms widely.

Gale stares at his siblings, reminds himself that they are kids. They don't
know any better.

"I wonder, if that Mellark boy is still going to bake when he is married." Even
Rory employs an irritating tone, trying to catch Gale's gaze. "He stopped
bringing bread over. He is a jerk, if you ask me. Merchant boys are bullies,
everyone knows that. He must've bullied Katniss into marrying him."

Rory is not as naive as his younger siblings. But Rory does not know Katniss.
She is not one who lets herself get bullied into marriage. Peeta must've
succeeded. He and Katniss are a couple, for real. They are getting married. His
heart clenches painfully - harder than on the night weeks ago, when he said
goodbye to Katniss in the daylight and goodbye to Peeta at night.

Without a word he stands up and leaves their small little hut and the voices of
his family far behind, trotting through the Seam like a lion in a cage. He
feels so restricted in District 12. There is nowhere to go really. And even the
woods…without Katniss there, they are just woods. Nothing more. Katniss. Oh,
how beautiful she looked on TV. He hates the Capitol style, he tells himself,
but whatever those people do, they know how to make her look absolutely
stunning. Their stylists bring out the best in her figure, that's for sure. And
her eyes are absolutely mesmerizing, the make up subtle but accentuating the
shine in them.

Damn you, Katniss. And damn you, Peeta Mellark.

Peeta still loves Katniss and it is obvious with every look in her direction.
His gaze is so full of love and adoration that it makes Gale physically sick.
No one is that good an actor. Are they fucking now? Is Peeta really using his
knowledge, the things he taught him about girls, perhaps right in this moment
in some fancy Capitol hotel bed? Why is he so jealous? He told Peeta before
that he can be with Katniss. But the thought of the two of them together,
without him, is too much to handle. He doesn't know who he is more jealous of,
Katniss or Peeta. His frustration turns into anger and anger slowly turns into
rage when he nearly runs into a girl, on the street from the Hob to the Mines.

"Ouch, can't you look where you're…", the girl starts and then stops, her eyes
wide. It's Mia. The girl Peeta brought to the slag heap, that fateful night
weeks ago. When he started to see Peeta as more than just a rival for Katniss'
affection.

Mia looks scared for a second, perhaps remembering his harsh words at the slag
heap. While he doesn't like this girl, and cannot imagine why Peeta ever sought
her out, he also doesn't like the fact that a girl this small and skinny seems
to be afraid of him. He is not some kind of monster.

"Hey," he says, in what he hopes is a neutral tone. "How are you?"

Mia looks at him suspiciously and then says, "I'm okay. You?"

"Alright," he adds, "Listen, do you have a minute? I have something to ask
you."

"I'm not going to the slag heap with you," Mia hisses and Gale rolls his eyes.
As if he wanted to got to the slag heap with every girl he talks to. This one,
in particular, seems to have a very high opinion of herself.

"Well, then goodbye," he turns around, "was good meeting you, Mia."

"Wait," Mia yells loudly, "I'm sorry. If you want, we can go, Gale."
He nearly laughs at this, because it is exactly what he expected, but stops
himself. Mia is a poor Seam girl. Her father is a widower and is known in the
mines as Black Jerry, because he looks as black as coal, never getting rid of
the coal dust, even after showering. While Mia probably has food, her life
can't be that happy. He feels empathy, he really does. Mia is the same as him,
as most Seam people. Not free in any way. So laughing at her is cruel.

"Do you offer yourself to every guy you meet?" he asks grinning and she shakes
her head.

"Only to the good looking ones," she says, but the quiver in her voice betrays
her. She is still afraid of him. He wonders if she sells herself. The thought
makes him sick. Nobody should have to do that. And he hates that Peeta went
with Mia to the slag heap. Paid her.

"What deal did you make with Peeta Mellark?" he finds himself asking.

She looks at him, distrust evident in her face. But then she sighs and leans
against the wall of an old abandoned Seam hut to their right.

"Why are you interested in this? I mean, he never came back to get his reward
after that night. And now he never will…."

"Tell me about it," Gale says.

"Only if you promise me one thing," Mia answers solemnly and he nods. He
doesn't have much money, but she must know that. "When you take part in the
same shift with my father, make sure he drinks from his water hose, whenever
you're taking a break, okay? He always forgets. And then he dehydrates. It's no
good."

"I will," he agrees, easily. And he understands that this girl here is only
presenting a tough exterior to people. Is not as bold as she pretends and in
reality, is more than afraid of the fact that she might lose the only parent
she has left in this world. It is hard to accept, but people are not black and
white. Everyone has their cross to bear. Katniss told him something similar
about her stylist, Cinna. But the Capitol is different. These people don't have
an inkling about love and survival. They only see the Districts as slave
fodder.

"Peeta Mellark is fairly popular, mainly with the merchant girls, but he was
never rude to the Seam girls like many of the town boys are. It's hard to find
someone like this," Mia begins and Gale nods. "Not one of our class was that
surprised when he confessed that he was in love with Katniss. It's not like it
had been common knowledge, but he had turned down merchant girls before. There
was much gossip around that time, why would he do that…you know…the merchant
girls are sooo pretty. With their hair. And their dresses…"

Mia seems to be a little bit too invested in schoolyard gossip, but maybe that
is her way of coping. Not many hobbies available here.

"Katniss is even more popular than him. A lot of boys like her. Not only you,"
Mia gives him a knowing look. "I think most of the boys in our class had a
crush on her."

Gale shakes his head. This talk is weird to him. He never saw Katniss with any
boy beside himself. They might've been intimidated. Katniss' death glare was
famous.

"I ran into Peeta one night when I was heading to Cray's, to see if Darius was
there. I have a little crush on the guy. Through the back yards of the merchant
quarter, that's the shortest route," Mia continues, finally coming to the
interesting parts, "It was late. He was standing beneath an old apple tree
behind his parents house, staring at something. When he saw me he called me
over, and we started talking. He seemed to be honestly interested in my life in
the Seam and how school was, now that he wasn't allowed to go anymore. He was
so sweet, I kind of…well, I moved closer and gave him a kiss. He said he
couldn't do it and ran away."

Gale doesn't have any idea how they ended up at the slag heap together. With
Mia being too forward and Peeta obviously still heartbroken.

"Few days later, same situation, Peeta Mellark in the middle of the night
staring at some place on the ground beneath the apple tree. I got aggressive.
When I like a boy and they are obviously interested in me, I have my methods to
get them, where I want them," Mia starts playing with her hair in a girlish
way. This is what she might think is a flirty move.

"I kissed him again, he pushed me away. I told him that I kinda liked him.
Would be more than just interested in a night of fun in his bed in the Victor's
Village. After a few nights, he finally seemed to give in. We made a deal. He
insisted that we meet at the slag heap. Make out a bit. If he'd like it, we
would repeat the same thing in the Victor's Village. I always wanted to get
into one of these houses. They have warm water showers, or so I've heard."

Mia looks bored.

"I think I'll go back home, look after Pa. He shouldn't be alone that long."

Gale watches Mia turn towards one of the dirtier areas of the Seam, her long
black hair flowing behind her.

"Did Peeta ask you to dress like Katniss?" he asks a last question, holding his
breath. He doesn't know why this is so important to him.

Mia turns to look at him, her face an impassive mask.

"Don't remember," Mia says and then she is gone.
 
===============================================================================


When he said goodbye to Katniss in the woods, he had tried to kiss her goodbye
beneath a tree near the fence before they parted. She got stiff in his arms at
first but then accepted his lips on hers and relaxed. Seeing this as a good
sign he tried to push his tongue inside her mouth, but Katniss took a step
back, looking betrayed.
Why couldn't she be more like Peeta? Peeta accepted his kisses goodbye, oh yes,
they had kissed long and hard that night. He had been slightly intrusive with
Peeta as well, pinched his nipples harder than necessary and even slapped the
boy's ass cheek once. Peeta didn't comment on this, but moaned his name a bit
louder, biting into his shoulder softly. When he started to suck roughly on
Peeta's neck though, he felt Peeta tense up and stopped himself.

Peeta had stroked his cheek slowly then, tried to soothe him, he guessed, but
the message was clear. Don't do this, what will Katniss think?

The engagement must've been spontaneous. Peeta would've said something, right?
If he had planned this. Before. Thinking about them leaves him with headaches
and he stays miserable during the weeks that both of them are gone.
Missing her. Missing…them.
===============================================================================


When Katniss and Peeta return from the tour, he doesn't wait. Lets himself into
Peeta's house in the middle of the night and enters the room in which Peeta
indulges his talent, painting, seeing the light is still on from the outside.

Peeta looks up and for a short moment Gale sees guilt etched in every corner of
Peeta's forced smile.

"Hello," Peeta says shyly, standing up to walk over, arms slightly lifted,
probably hoping for a hug, but he doesn't want to. So he takes a step back.

"Look at you," Gale says cuttingly, "looking stylish."

Peeta looks fancy indeed, his clothes brand new, his hair groomed and his face
shaved.

"I missed you," Peeta breathes out, licking his lips, "Brought you some clothes
from the Capitol. Nothing extravagant, but I thought you might like new
underclothes? They were made especially for.."

"I don't want anything from you, or the Capitol," Gale interrupts, staring down
at Peeta. "Especially not now. I think congratulations are in order, Mr.
Fiancé. Did it work, huh?"

Peeta bites his lip, uncertainty etched in his features. He doesn't say a
thing.

"Hey, I asked you a question. Finally took Katniss to bed, did you?" The look
in Peeta's eyes says it all, and something deep inside Gale's chest starts to
ache badly.

"I have only myself to blame," he continues, talking more to himself than to
Peeta. What an idiot he has been. This is all his fault, anyway.

"No, it's not like that." Peeta whispers, after a pause.

"What was that? Then what is it like?" Gale asks, even though he doesn't want
to hear the answer. What had been a fun game before, has turned into a painful
exercise. He's not sure if he ever wants to talk about Katniss to Peeta again.

"We…we slept together. In the same bed," Peeta says, and it's almost like he
can hear his heart breaking. "But only for comfort. We didn't even kiss.
There…there was nothing sexual about it. She has nightmares. And so do I, you
know that. I merely offered comfort."

"Yeah, sure," Gale huffs. As if he would believe that. Comforting Katniss with
his cock, that's how it is.

"Haymitch and Katniss decided that we should marry. It has to be done, to
protect our families. I never wanted it," Peeta says, and starts to pace around
the room.

"You expect me to believe that you don't want to be with Katniss? How stupid do
you think I am?"

Peeta's head turns into his direction, eyes showing only sadness.

"Of course, I want to be with Katniss, Gale. I love..her... and if she wanted
to be with me out of her own free will I would be the happiest man. But she
doesn't. She is forced into the marriage. A marriage to me. I've been telling
you before, but you don't listen to what I have to say. She does not want me!
And now we have to marry and she'll end up hating me. This is torture. I never
wished for this, can't you see? I don't want a fake happiness. I'd rather have
you two marry and never get to touch…you….her… ever again….maybe…."

Peeta seems to be fighting with himself, and what then comes out of his mouth
is so forced and painful that it can only be his real honest thoughts, out
there in the open.

"Perhaps…if we marry, you two can still be …together? And I'll only be her
husband in name. When we go to the Capitol, I'll be with her for the cameras.
But you should be able to have a relationship without me interfering. I'll try
to be discreet, but we could still meet, as friends. I promise you, I won't
force myself on… you…your girl. Or touch her. Only for comfort and only if she
asks. Would that be okay?"

He stares at the baker's boy, barely able to believe what he is hearing. Is
Peeta goading him into some sort of trap? How can one person be so selfless? It
doesn't make any sense, and he doubts that Katniss would be able to live such a
lie, even if he'd agree. And where would that leave Peeta? Staying friends
under these circumstances is pure idiocy. They aren't friends anyway.

"You're talking bullshit, Mellark. How would that ever work? Do you know
Katniss at all? She would never do this."

Peeta shakes his head.

"Did…did you kiss her lately?"

Gale narrows his eyes, but can't bring himself to lie to Peeta, "Yes. In the
woods, before the Victory tour."

Peeta nods. "She told me."

He raises his eyebrows.

"She told me and it's okay. It's okay, really. You look good together. When I
watched you before the games, I've always thought so. I was jealous of you, of
course. But I thought, these two look like a perfect match. Gale, you and
Katniss make a great couple.  I imagined you two kissing in the woods, alone in
some clearing. Sometimes when you touch me and teach me about Katniss, it's the
same. I can see both of you together before my inner eye. And really, the only
times I ever got to kiss her was in front of the cameras. It's alright…that..
humf.."

Gale grabs Peeta and presses his lips on his mouth. He can't listen to this
nonsense any longer, hating the way Peeta belittles himself. Can't he see that
he's important? And then there are the things Peeta openly reveals, about his
fantasies. Gale and Katniss together, making love in the woods. They are so
eerily similar to his own thoughts and feelings. How often did he jerk off
during the last few weeks, thinking of nothing but Peeta and Katniss fucking in
their hotel room? Or Katniss on her knees, sucking Peeta off in his house in
the Village? Peeta licking her all over in his sitting room. And when Peeta
orgasms in these fantasies of his, it's always Gale's name on his lips - not
Katniss'.

What does that say about him? How did these weird desires begin, these strange
feelings take root? And when will they leave him? When will he be able to have
free, carefree encounters with Seam girls again without thinking of sex with
Peeta and Katniss?

Peeta's eyes are wide open in shock but as he slowly relaxes into the kiss, so
do his eyelids, fluttering close. He opens up his mouth slightly and Gale can
slowly push his tongue inside. For some reason, he leaves his tongue slack and
lets Gale dominate this. Gale responds by kissing him harder, nipping Peeta's
lower lip and giving it a light suck. He embraces Peeta's torso tightly, so
tightly it must hurt. Peeta groans, a deep animalistic sound that makes Gale
buck his hips. He feels the need to claim, like on that night at the heap, more
urgent, much stronger this time. The mental image of Peeta fucking Katniss is
back. Watching his strong backside, his shoulders, his thighs, and his
wonderful bottom, clenching, pushing back and forth into his Catnip is simply
overwhelming.

The opportunity he has subconsciously waited for has finally arrived. The need
to go further than jerking each other off and doing more than simply trading
blow jobs is festering in his mind. He wants to fuck. And he wants to be the
one doing the fucking. Taking Peeta. 'Yes', he thinks, grabbing on Peeta's
shirt, trying to undress him frantically, 'I got to have him. First.'

Peeta however seems to have another idea. He pushes him away, gently but
firmly, cheeks flushed, pants tented.

"No," he shakes his head. "We shouldn't, we shouldn't do this. I'm sorry that I
let it go this far. But…"

"I want to take you, Peeta," Gale says, and tries to kiss Peeta again, but he
turns his head away. Gale flushes at the rejection. Why is Peeta so hesitant?
Wasn't he all needy before, always sensual, always seductive, open to Gale,
willing to do anything? It must be his inexperience, Gale decides. Peeta
doesn't know how sex works with another boy and he is afraid of the inevitable
pain.

"Don't worry, lil' one," he reassures, caressing Peeta's cheeks while the boy's
eyes seem to melt into a darker shade of blue at the use of the pet name, "I
know what to do, so it won't hurt too bad. I've fucked girls in the ass
before."

At this Peeta's face darkens and he steps away. "It's not that, Gale. I don't
think we should do this. I mean, didn't you teach me so that I could make
Katniss' first time something special, something she'll love?"

"Yeah," Gale replies, "And it'll still be special and lovely. You're an
experienced man now. She'll love what you can do to her."

"But then," Peeta's voice is young, boyish, and Gale wonders where his problem
lies, "...then, my first time won't be with Katniss."

Even though the pain in Peeta's voice is obviously real, it still seems like a
lame excuse to Gale. What kind of reasoning is this?

"Your first time with a girl will be with Katniss. Considering I barely made it
in time to prevent you from fucking Mia at the slag heap I don't see how you
can be that concerned about it. If you don't want me to fuck you, just say so."

Gale feels his erection deflating and outrage taking its place at Peeta's
confused expression.

"You're a hypocrite. Can't you see that you've been dealt with the best set of
cards here? Growing up with both parents, always enough food on the table. The
only thing you ever had to worry about was your placement in the wrestling
competitions, while others fought for survival. And then, coming back from the
Hunger Games as a victor, the girl you love presented to you, like a gift, ripe
for the taking thanks to the Capitol. She will be yours, whether she likes it
or not. Don't complain about forcing her, Katniss will open her legs for you
sooner than you think. Being her first is something I can only dream about. She
may protest, but Katniss can and will make the best of any circumstance. She
likes you, it won't take much, believe me. And then you can fuck her like you
always wanted, live in riches and watch your children grow up happily. I really
don't see how you have it so bad, Peeta Mellark."  
Peeta's fair complexion turns paler and paler at every angry word that leaves
Gale in his rage. The rim of his eyes are red, filled with uncried tears. His
voice, though, remains icily calm when he replies, "Thank you for this
interesting summary of my situation, Gale Hawthorne. This was definitely an eye
opener. If I held on any illusions about your true thoughts of me, I can let
them go."

Gale doesn't know how to reply, but it seems that Peeta isn't finished yet.
There is also a hidden fire in his eyes, anger at Gale's accusations.
His voice gets more animated when he continues, "It doesn't change a thing
about our situation though. If we fuck, as you so nicely put it, we betray
Katniss. You and me, both. Do you think she'll honestly want to be with one of
us if she finds out what we do with each other? That she might even like the
thought? Katniss is pure, an innocent girl. No matter how often she tries to
deny it. I doubt she knows that there is such a thing as oral sex. In the Games
she could barely look at me naked. If she touches herself at all, she is likely
ashamed about it. One thing is certain, the thought of two boys fucking never
crossed her mind. Generally, she might be okay with it. But not if it's you and
me. Be sure, she would be disgusted. And then we'd lose her. Think about that."

Gale swallows hard. Peeta described his greatest fears in detail. Things he
didn't want to think about, tried to push in a far corner of his mind. The fact
that he basically kicked both of them out of the running without really meaning
to. Why did he approach Peeta at the slag heap? And why did Peeta invite him
in? Into his house and into his heart? Fear grips around his own. Fear of
losing them both, Katniss and Peeta. He is angry that Peeta openly stated what
kept him awake at night, that the words - once spoken - cannot be ignored
anymore.

"So what now? The damage is done already, Peeta. Okay, we didn't fuck yet, but
won't she be equally disgusted at the thought of us kissing wetly at the slag
heap? Of you on your knees, sucking me off in your bed? At your needy moans of
my name when you blow your load?"

The baker's son flushes pink and Gale feels his anger disappearing fast, shame
creeping up on him. Why did he have to say it like this? Peeta had been so
loving, so sweet that night when he had been drunk and he had gently blown him
for the first time. He had swallowed and never asked for this in return,
patiently waited until Gale offered it himself. When did he become such a nasty
person?

Peeta didn't want to fuck, so what? He should've accepted it and moved on. They
could've continued like before. It wasn't the first time he had been denied
sex, why did he act so immature today? Why did he have to go into such an
horrible speech, insulting him when he knows that Peeta is hurting and lonely?

"I think it's better if we don't see each other for a while, Gale," Peeta says
sadly. "I was happy that you came to visit, but please leave."

"Listen, Peeta," Gale begins, hand reaching out, but Peeta slaps it away,
expression so injured that Gale can't bear to look at him, eyes finding the
floor.

"Go," he hears Peeta press out, and Gale feels like crying when he turns around
and leaves silently, the hunter in him careful at making no noise. As soon as
he is out of the house he can't hold it in anymore, a painful sob escapes him.
It hurts so fucking much. He is not sure what made him act mean. He was not
able to control his temper. Peeta is not at fault, only stated things as they
were.
Their whole encounter only shows one thing. What a horrible person Gale is.
Right from the start he had been aggressive, tried to get Peeta confess
something that had only happened in his imagination. Peeta, always steady, had
tried to contain his fears and doubts, wanted to be with him still. Gale is
sure that Peeta never thought of ending their meetings or breaking up prior to
tonight.
If he'd only acted a tad more gently, only had been a bit more kind, his boy
would have let him take him. Wasn't he known for being skilled at seducing? He
knows Peeta's reactions and body by now. Knows how to touch and tease. He
could've made Peeta so horny that he would've agreed to go all the way, easily.
If he'd used all that knowledge Peeta might've even begged for it. Gale
wouldn't even have had to ask, would not have appeared like such a needy fool.
But now that chance is gone and not only that. The lil'one doesn't want to see
him anymore. Pain clenches around his heart at the thought of losing Peeta. The
worst thing is, he only has himself to blame.

Gale wanders around the dark District, towards the fence, thinking of slipping
through and never returning. But he can't. His life, no matter how much he
hates it, is here. His family is here. And she is here.

Katniss.
He still has Katniss. Peeta wouldn't dare to tell Katniss about what they did
or that he went to the heap with Mia. They are both caught in this web, and he
still has a chance with Catnip. They are engaged but the marriage didn't happen
yet. Maybe he might be able to convince her, make her see that she belongs to
him and he to her? He doubts that Peeta would interfere. He basically gave them
his blessings. But the thought of leaving Peeta out of their relationship makes
him ache. Peeta all alone, married only on paper, not being able to be with
Katniss or him. This cannot be the solution, it would be cruel and unfair.
And Catnip? How would she react if they told her the truth? Gale can't see
himself lying to her all his life. The damage has been done, indeed. But
thinking of his days with Peeta as damage is not fair and not true. He had
enjoyed these days. Missed Peeta and Katniss equally when they were gone.
He is back at the Seam and stares at the moon above. The mines are waiting. In
another three hours the shift begins and he hasn't slept at all. Wondering if
he might get punished, if he falls asleep in the darkness of the tunnels
tomorrow, he enters the little Hawthorne hut, carefully making sure that no one
wakes up as he lies down in bed with his little brother, who snores steadily
beside him.
 
===============================================================================


Gale tries to forget Peeta. It's not that hard to avoid him as he doesn't go to
the Victor's Village anymore and Peeta doesn't show up in the Seam after he
told him to stop coming. Preventing his thoughts to wander back to the baker's
son is another issue. On Sundays he meets up with Catnip mainly to hunt, but he
uses every chance to court her, to show her he remains interested.
When Katniss asks him to run away together one afternoon his heart sings with
joy for a moment. He has passed a beautiful clearing in the woods earlier,
where the sun shines softly through the high trees and the moss seems so soft.
The perfect place, the place where he imagined him and Katniss making love
before the Hunger Games. And while Peeta has never been to the woods, he also
always imagined a place like this. Gale shudders when he can't help but let his
mind go down that route. What if he and Katniss become a couple for real?
Lately he has a feeling that he is making some progress with her. He can
imagine them making love here, in this clearing. He could ask Katniss if she
would be okay with Peeta watching them. Gale shakes his head. These are stupid
fantasies, imaginary scenarios that will never happen in real life. Katniss
isn't easy. Especially not when it comes to love.

Maybe it would be possible if they'd run away together. The three of them. But
Katniss wants to take their families and Haymitch with them. The thought of
running away - all of them - is too unrealistic to consider. It would never
work out. When Katniss accidentally tells him that there is unrest in the
Districts he knows for sure that they can't go. If a rebellion is happening he
must stay, stay and help to make it happen. For his family, for his life, for a
better future, for all of them. He and Katniss argue about it, but at that
moment he honestly doesn't care about her opinion, is even disgusted that she
doesn't want to help. Katniss could do so much, but might still be too young to
see the bigger picture.
This is the chance he has been waiting for. Excited about talking to some of
his fellow miners he trusts later, he walks over to Cray's house to trade a
turkey they shot in the woods. After two knocks, the door opens up, showing a
face he has never seen before. And there is no doubt, this is not a friendly
face.

"My, my, what do we have here?" says the man with an ugly sneer stretched
across this cruel face and Gale feels true fear creeping up his spine as he
clutches onto the turkey tightly.
Chapter End Notes
     Uh, hello Thread? What do you think? Is that the end for Hawlark?
***** In the Everdeen's kitchen *****
Chapter Summary
     A different kind of rule enforcing is changing the District and
     President Snow makes a Quarter Quell announcement that destroys the
     hope for a future relationship between Peeta and Gale.
Chapter Notes
     It's been a while. Thank you for reading this story. Your support on
     this rare pairing means the world to me, I'm so grateful and happy
     when I read your sweet reviews and receive kudos.
     I'm repeating myself, but the main pairing in this story is Gale/
     Peeta and they continue to do..things to each other. Ha. Enjoy!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
The feeling of a heartbeat. Pulsing, strong, rhythmic. Repeating again, again,
and… again.

It reminds Gale of the old rocking chair at home. Hazelle cradling him, then
Rory, Vick and finally small, sweet little Posy while humming an unknown tune
in the night. It reminds him of the rhythmic motion of his hips when he slowly
rocks into a warm body of a willing Seam girl, enjoys her on the heap. It
reminds him of the soothing ticking of their only clock, hanging dangerously,
just short of falling, on a rusty nail over the kitchen sink. It reminds him of
the sound of a woodpecker he shows to his Katniss at the beginning of spring.

And finally it reminds him of the sweet helpless little moans that leave
Peeta's mouth when he is too far gone and clings to Gale in his passion. "Ah,
Ah, Ah, Gale…" he pants into his ear and Gale smiles at the hazy memory in his
sleep, at these wonderful sounds that make him feel so happily in love. The
pounding gets stronger, heavier. It's not sweet anymore, but cutting, hot, and
Gale gasps for breath. The pounding becomes unbearable, unpleasant like the
screeching sound of the coal digger down in the mines.

Where is he?
Groaning he slowly opens his eyes and the first thing he sees is a head. The
head belongs to Katniss Everdeen, resting on her cheek next to him a red welt
on her face, snoring softly. Gale is lying on his stomach and suddenly it all
comes back to him. The face of the new head peacekeeper.
How he had been dragged to the town square and whipped in front of all the
district people. How no one came to his aid, no one seemed to have the courage
to step up and speak. How he met the eyes of people from town, blond folks who
said nothing. Not really surprising. No, the real surprise were Billy, Anders,
Winne and several other guys from the Seam and the mines who looked the other
way. He had seen Namy and met the gaze of Becca who also did her Sunday
shopping around town. None of them had stood up for him. They were scared, they
are scared. He knows but can't help but feel bitter. He's sure that he would've
prevented this had it happened to any of them. But the fear of the Capitol, the
cowering in front of authority runs deeper in Twelve than he had thought
possible.

And then there was Catnip. He remembers her pained cry and his eyes get wet.
They hit her. His beautiful girl. The peacekeeper hit her face, with a whip of
all things. If they did that to the darling of the 74th Hunger Games then there
really is no doubt. The Capitol is declaring war. And if Katniss doesn't do as
they say… Gale shudders, the motion hurting every inch of his body.

Katniss has both of her hands wrapped around his larger one. She must've
watched over him until she fell asleep with exhaustion. He already feels his
eyelids grow heavy, too. Better this way. The last thought he has before giving
in to blissful sleep is that he can't go to work tomorrow, and what that will
mean in terms of income. What will his family do, oh, what will they do?
 
===============================================================================


Is he still dreaming? Scratchy lips meet his own. Did he fall asleep in the
clearing of the woods? Is Catnip here with him? The familiar scent of pinewood
needle is strong here, wherever here is. He feels a warmth leave his hand and a
screeching of a chair being pushed back, followed by a gasp.

"You need to sleep," Peeta says, "I can watch over him for a while."

Peeta. He is also here. Gale tries to say something but his throat is dry.

"No, no.  I need to stay. You don't understand. This is all my fault. I can't
leave him."

The worry in Katniss' voice is so real, so honest that Gale wonders how he
could've ever doubted her love for him. She loves him. Maybe not in that
romantic way that leads to sweaty encounters at the heap, but Katniss simply
hasn't had time for this kind of feeling to fester in her mind and body. She
will come to crave it, love it even, if it's done right.

Isn't Peeta the best example? How innocent he had been, fidgeting around
nervously, that first time they met at the heap. Soiled his pants in front of
Gale, blushing adorably pink. Barely able to meet his eyes, embarrassed at his
obvious enjoyment of being caressed, skin on skin, having another touch him on
his sensitive spots. The second time the blush wasn't as obvious. And the third
time he timidly moaned Gale's name. They continued to go and Peeta got better
at controlling himself, at riding out his orgasms. Stopped being afraid and
learned to enjoy it, became a very active partner himself. Why should Katniss
be any different?

"Sure," Peeta replies and his voice just changes the slightest bit. Gale doubts
he would have noticed if Peeta hadn't spent so many hours with him. "How could
I ever understand your relationship? I get it. But you need to sleep. I promise
I'll look after him, okay?"

"We can't run," Katniss says softly and Gale has to concentrate hard because
she walked over to wherever Peeta is standing, away from Gale, "I'm sorry
that…I mean, I'm sorry that I continue to use you for comfort, time and time
again when I know…know how you feel. It's unfair and unkind. Gale likes me,
like that…."

At that a dark chuckle leaves Peeta, "Who would've guessed? I know that. I've
always known. Right now is not the time to worry about my feelings. Worry about
Gale, if you must, but try to get some rest. I'll protect him while you slept.
Won't let anything bad happen, I promise."

Peeta's voice is like a healing balm and Gale feels better, comforted. Nothing
bad will happen if the lil' one will be there to protect him. Simple as that.

"I know," she says timidly. "I trust you. But Gale…."

"You love him," Peeta states. "It's not hard to see. And I…"

Gale holds his breath, almost expects Peeta to say, "I love him, too." But he
wouldn't, would he? Is it the morphling? Makes him want to hear that Peeta
cares for him, thinks he is precious? This is neither the time or the place to
make that statement, that much is obvious even in his drugged state.

"I do understand. He is a good man. You're both lucky, you know?"

"Peeta.."

"Just go to sleep, Katniss."  

Ruffling. Are they embracing? Gale opens his eyes slowly. Even that hurts.
There is a creak somewhere, Katniss is making noise. Unusual, even if this is
in her own house. He imagines she usually is silent, silent like he is.

The kitchen comes into focus, Gale's eyes find a cupboard with a wide amount of
medicine viols, carefully stacked next to an assortment of dried plants. Mrs.
Everdeen's apothecary. Gale is lying on the Everdeen's kitchen table in
Katniss' house in the Victor's Village. He has never been in here before. For
some reason every family has their own scent. And even though the house is old,
it kind of smells like the Everdeen's hut in the Seam. Like Mrs. Everdeen, like
little Prim and like Katniss.

"Pe…..taaa", Gale croaks and suddenly Peeta is there holding a glass of water
with a straw to his lips. He drinks greedily, the cool water hurting his
throat.

Peeta sits down next to him and takes the hand Katniss was holding earlier into
his larger one. His eyes are clouded with worry. The dark shadows beneath them
show Gale that Peeta hasn't been sleeping well for longer than the two days
he's been injured. 'He's been having nightmares, again. Alone in that big
house,' Gale realizes and whimpers. He never made an effort to return, when he
knew that Peeta had trouble sleeping. Sure, Peeta had told him to leave, but
shouldn't he have tried to talk about it?

"I've been me..meaning to talk…" he coughs and Peeta shakes his head.

"No talking," he orders. "Relax please, and listen. I am so sorry about what
happened between us after the tour. You were right, I was acting like a
hypocrite. I thought I could have you both at first. No..that's not right. In
the beginning I didn't think at all, only went with you because I was so
lonely. And you offered to be with me, I felt happy, didn't think that much
about what that really meant. For me, for you. And for our relationship with
Katniss. Finally someone who cares, I thought. Someone only for me. But you
weren't only for me, were you?"

Peeta's voice grows quiet, a defeated look creeps into these endless blue eyes
of his and Gale can't help; despite the pain; despite the hurt; he just can't
help but notice that Peeta is a handsome boy. There is something magnetic about
him. More than simple attractiveness. Peeta possesses something special and
loving. Not that he hasn't seen it before, but today he looks especially cute.
Sweet, worrying, caring. For him. Peeta swallows hard.
"And I knew. I knew and used you all the same, like I would've used Mia. I felt
bad about going with her from the beginning. Didn't really want her. But she
was so persistent, teasing me, so I thought if I just closed my eyes I could
pretend it wasn't some girl from school, but the one I always wanted. I'm not
sure if I would have gone through with it, even if you hadn't interrupted us.
I'm thankful you stopped me. She's not Katniss and I wasn't being fair. Always
hoping that Katniss Everdeen might come round, choosing me.. I was a pathetic
fool, only acting on my own desires. And when it got serious, when you rightly
asked for more, I rejected you. Words can't even express how sorry I am."

"No.." Gale moans, feeling a headache coming. Peeta and him, they did the same
thing. Using each other, hurting each other. And rightly asked for more? Peeta
has a right to say no, and calling his own shots. He isn't compelled to act out
every selfish fantasy Gale has. Letting another man intrude his body in that
way, Gale can never blame Peeta for saying no.

"Me too, I'm…" he croaks, barely able to get the words out. "Sorry…lil'one. For
pushing you."

Peeta smiles then and it is like the room suddenly becomes lighter, warmer.

"Don't be," he says. "Please get healthy….when you're feeling better we'll have
a real talk about our situation. But Gale…"

He stops and looks longingly in the direction Katniss left a few minutes ago.
Seems to make some decision. His voice is determined, while he strokes over
Gale's knuckles with his thumb.

"Gale, I've come to respect you. And….like you. I'm not sure how far these
feelings go, they are different to the one's I have for Katniss. But I'm
certain that I don't want to hurt you. And we both don't want to hurt Katniss."

He pauses a while and looks around the kitchen, eyes searching for a solution.

"S'okay," Gale mumbles. He feels weak, not strong enough to think or talk about
what they are going to do now, where to go from here. One last thing he has to
say though.

"My family, please. Please help..bread.." he moans, panic rising in his chest.
He's afraid, he realizes. He's told Peeta to stop harassing his family when he
brought them bread but now he can't help but hope that Peeta doesn't hold any
grudges.

"Say no more," Peeta nods, "Katniss and I won't let them starve."

He groans, thankful for having his family taken care off.

"Sleep now," Peeta whispers, and Gale's eyelids grow heavy. For some reason it
feels like he is drowning in beautiful soft green mosses of the woods.
===============================================================================


The weeks that follow his injuries are tough on Gale. The toughest he ever
lived through. The pain is so real that he can barely stand up. Peeta and Thom
half carry him back to his mother's hut a day later. The peacekeepers already
knocked on Hazelle's door the day before, questioning her about his
whereabouts. There are new rules instilled at the mines. If you miss work for
more than three days you can't come back.

"Impossible," Katniss' mother tells him, a day later. "You need to rest, at
least a week, possibly longer. Your back is an open wound. If coal dust settles
inside, it will get infected. And then.."

She doesn't have to end the sentence. He knows very well what happens then. But
he needs the work, needs to work for the sake of his family. He can't afford to
lose his job. Hunting can only get them so far, and now that peacekeepers are
swarming around the district it is almost impossible to leave undetected. So he
leaves for the mines on the fourth day, after his whipping to find little
Primrose in front of the hut. She gives him a little vial containing morphling.
He makes it through the day thanks to the drug. In the evening Mrs. Everdeen
comes to clean his wounds. The pain is cutting, unbearable. He falls
unconscious several times.

He knows that the morphling comes from Peeta and Katniss. They're the only ones
who can afford it and probably get it from the Capitol. It's ridiculous, taking
drugs from the Capitol to help with injuries the Capitol caused. Peeta doesn't
come to see him in the evenings, but brings bread to Hazelle during the day.
She stopped being cautious of the baker's boy and even his siblings seemed to
have warmed to him. Katniss visits every other day with her mother, but leaves
the hut when he starts to undress. It's not him being naked but his bloody back
that makes her face go green. It must look horrific. They don't have a mirror
so he doesn't see.

The work gets easier and after a while he doesn't need the bandages anymore. He
thinks of going hunting again, but Primrose tells him the fence is on twenty-
four hours. Katniss has injured herself when she tried to get back in. This is
a catastrophe for a man that feeds his family with game. He doesn't have time
to think about his situation with Peeta because not being able to hunt is the
worst thing that could've happened.
He also has to be careful about the way he acts in the mines and when he talks
with people in town or even Seam. He has a feeling that a new foreman was hired
specifically to keep his eyes on him and that makes him nervous. It's like he
is considered dangerous. The Capitol has eyes everywhere. When Katniss and
Peeta won the Hunger Games they started to focus on the almost forgotten
District 12. On those close to the star-crossed lovers. It wouldn't surprise
Gale if they generated a file on him back when those camera teams came to ask
him about Katniss. They are clever, they are cunning. He wonders if they
somehow got wind of his relations with Peeta.
The thought makes him even more angry. His private life is his own business.

The uneasy feeling of being monitored closely doesn't go away, and he tells his
mother to be careful. His worries are more about his family than himself. And
he worries about Katniss and Peeta. He has some horrible sense of foreboding
that more trouble is in the making for them. He decides it is better to make
himself sparse in the Victor's Village, for safety reasons. Still, he misses
them badly.
Both.
 
===============================================================================


On a moonlit night several weeks after his whipping he wakes in the middle of
the night and looks around the hut, vision still unfocused. He dreamed of warm
showers and sweet embraces. He doesn't know what woke him, Rory is snoring
softly next to him. He is sleeping on his stomach, the skin on his back still
sensitive. And then he feels it. He is hard. So hard, it is bordering on
painful. His first instinct is to rut against the mattress. Rub himself to a
quick release and get it over with. But Rory is next to him and he really
doesn't want to. Especially since it's been a while that he needed to do this
on his own.

He slips out of bed and gets dressed slowly. It's Sunday. His usual Sunday
routine is history, over. He hasn't been to the slag heap since...since Peeta.
When he talked to Laika, met her on his way to work, she told him that most of
the couples avoid the heap these days. District 12 is swarming with
peacekeepers and rumor has it they don't care if they find girls with their
boyfriends. If they like a girl and see her at the heap they just take, no
questions asked. If the boy protests, well, he makes acquaintance with their
clubs or boots. Lately more and more of these disturbing tales reach his ear.
He won't go back to the heap. He won't do that to a girl. He is worried for
Becca, Mia and all the other girls who are in danger of assault. Before they
only had to worry about Cray, but old Cray never raped any girl, never took
without giving at least some coins and only when the girls came willingly.
To be honest, he doesn't want to go to the heap again, not today, never. His
dreams revolve about Peeta anyway. He wants to be with Peeta. All he really
wants right now is to sink down on Peeta's soft bed, cuddle into these soft
sheets and let his boy take care of him for a few hours. It's not hard to admit
to himself that he wants to be with Peeta. Strangely, too easy to admit. Even
if it's only to himself.
Scribbling down a quick note to Hazelle, telling her he went to the Village, he
puts on his jacket and leaves the hut.
There is a curfew in District 12, but Gale is a hunter. He knows how to blend
in with the dark shadows of the buildings, hide behind the trunks, become one
with the bushes. On yesterday's Capitol boulevard the topic of Katniss' wedding
dress was brought up. It won't be long until Capitol people like that horrid
Effie Trinket will be back here. If he wants to get Peeta alone, now is the
best time to do it.

The back door isn't locked. On silent feet does Gale climb the stairs and
searches for the door to Peeta's bedroom in the darkness. He opens the door and
finds Peeta in bed, seemingly asleep. Small snores leave the boy and Gale
wonders what's the best way to let Peeta know he is there.

The small sound of a moan can be heard and Peeta turns around. He is not
wearing a pajama. A small pink nub is visible, slightly hardened, 'His nipple',
Gale thinks, and his erection makes a reappearance.

Undressing quickly he closes the door behind him and leaves his pants, shirt
and underwear on the floor, slipping into the bed snuggling close to Peeta and
snakes his arm around his midriff from behind, waking him gently.

"Wha..?" Peeta groans, obviously half-asleep still. He only wears short boxers
to bed, while Gale undressed completely.

"Missed you," Gale whispers into Peeta's ear and presses his hard cock between
Peeta's clothed ass cheeks.

"Ga..Gale?"

"Yeah, lil'one," he confirms, "Expecting someone else?"

He chuckles, pressing himself closer. Peeta's body is warm, pliant. And he
smells good. Gale kisses the soft hair on his neck and begins to palm the boy's
soft cock through the boxers.

"I've been thinking about you," he murmurs while he continues to rub him into
hardness. The other hand finds Peeta's nipple, hefting it in one hand, pinching
it gently.

Peeta hums an approving moan. "Mmh..me too," he confesses to the darkness while
circling his hips against Gale rhythmic pushes.

"Yeah?" There is smugness in his voice and the wish to get Peeta to lose
control tonight.

"What exactly have you been thinking about?"

"Uh," Peeta moans, caught between Gale's hand rubbing his cock and pressing his
ass towards Gale.

"Katniss' pussy?" he asks, "Her sweet little slit, soaking wet and ready for
your hard cock?"

Peeta shudders in answer, reacting to Gale's crude language. He may deny it,
but Peeta always seems to grow stiffer when Gale gets explicit.

"I've…no…I've been thinking..about…," he groans deeply.

"Tell me," Gale demands. "Tell me now or I'll stop."

He has no plans of stopping, enjoying himself way too much. Always loved to
play with the girls at the heap, to tease them until they started to beg and
with Peeta it is so much more satisfying. Watching the boy squirm like this
nearly makes him come on the spot.

"No. No please, don't stop. I've been thinking 'bout you..doing..what you
wanted…" A short pause.

"Earlier…" Peeta wriggles harder, obviously heavily turned on.

Gale smiles to himself, knowing exactly what Peeta is referring to.

"Say it," he commands, jerking frantically away at Peeta's cock, rubbing the
rough fabric of the boxers against the hard shaft.

"I jerk off, thinking about…you…fuck…," Peeta swears, panting, "fucking me,
from behind..fuck…Gale, ah.."

Gale grins and pushes away, taking the sheets with him, throwing them on the
floor in front of the bed.

Peeta twirls around, cheeks red, eyes still lazy from sleep, pants tented and
stained with pre-cum. He looks angelic and so unbelievable hot. There is a
puzzled look in his eyes, not understanding the game.

"Take off your boxers and turn around," Gale says, making a fist to stroke
himself with even pressure while he takes in this wonderful sight.

Fear creeps into Peeta's expression, his eyes unsure and Gale knows for sure,
that in this moment, Peeta is not ready. Might never be ready to do this, to go
all the way.

"Trust me," he says softly, leaning forward to kiss Peeta full on the mouth.

"I won't hurt you," he promises and Peeta nods, pushing down his boxers. His
cock springs forward, leaking almost transparent liquid. It's a lovely sight
and Gale takes a moment to appreciate the fullness of Peeta's erect shaft in
the moonlight. His balls look full, ready to release.

"You have the most beautiful cock," he says aloud, shuddering. He didn't mean
to say this, but it came out anyway. Peeta blushes, averts his eyes.

"You didn't seem to like it that much back at the heap," he is saying in a
hushed tone, rendering Gale momentarily speechless. Has Peeta taken his comment
at the heap to heart?

Clenching his jaw together, he decides to show Peeta exactly how beautiful he
is. He slides forward and takes Peeta's chin in his hand, caresses him with his
thumb. Their foreheads bump together and he looks deep into these impossibly
blue eyes.

"You're the most handsome boy in this whole fucking district," he insists,
"don't let anyone tell you any different. Katniss knows it, I know it, everyone
knows it. I've been a real ass back then, testing you. Same goes for the
bullshit I threw at you when you came home from the tour. Don't listen to me,
I'm an idiot…"

"This is confusing. Should I believe you or not? Am I the most beautiful boy in
the district or not?" Peeta whispers against his lips, eyes twinkling and Gale
grins.

"You are," Gale says and presses a warm kiss on Peeta's lips. "And do you know
what I'm going to do? Make you feel really, really, really good." Gale presses
kisses on Peeta's mouth for each really. "You deserve it."

"What are you going to do?" Peeta challenges.

"Depends," he half-whispers, "Tell me what you like. And then we go from there.
I'm going to make you come hard tonight, lil'one."

"Gale," he starts, fiddling with his fingers, stroking his abs nervously, "I
don't know…"

"I'm not doing anything that you don't want," Gale reassures once more and
leans away.

"We could start with me sucking you off. I wanna worship that beautiful cock of
yours," he offers, admiring Peeta's well toned arms.

"Maybe…." Peeta smiles and his cock twitches, gets harder still and Gale takes
a deep breath, decides to take the lead. He moves forward.

"Turn around," he repeats his earlier request.

"Oh," Peeta exclaims in surprise. "This is new. I'm a bit self-conscious, I
guess."

"You can lay down, if you're more comfortable that way. You don't have to get
on all fours."

Peeta flushes pink, as if the idea hadn't crossed his mind before.

"Okay," he whispers and turns around, lies on his stomach. Gale takes a moment
to enjoy the view, takes it all in. Peeta's bottom is well formed. His ass
cheeks are round and admirably full. Peeta clenches them nervously, and Gale
can't help but notice that he unconsciously rocks his hips against the
mattress. It's almost too much for Gale, too inviting.

He slides down the bed, sitting on his haunches and pushes Peeta's legs apart
to slide in between them, but Peeta turns around, craning his neck to see.

"Wha…my….this is embarrassing."

He pushes his mouth back into the pillow, hiding while mumbling to himself.
"What are you doing? My leg…." he whimpers.

"Shhh," Gale soothes. "Everything is good." Putting his hands on each of
Peeta's ass cheeks he begins to massage them gently, pushing the globes apart
and together again.

Peeta thrusts his hips into the mattress, performing the motion of love making,
like in Gale's fantasy. He had planned to finger Peeta tonight, but thinks
better of it. He doesn't have anything that works as lube or lotion. Peeta
probably owns something that he could use, but he doesn't dare to ask.

His hands find Peeta's shoulder blades instead, his beautiful back and he
caresses him with sensual, sweet touches.

Peeta sighs and wraps his arms around the pillow, enjoying the feel of another
so close.

Gently he aligns his body so that his cock rests between Peeta's cheeks,
covering his whole body. He goes down and places his elbows next to Peeta's
head, so that he can whisper into the blond's ear.

"I'm not gonna hurt you," he says and Peeta gasps at the contact of their skin.
"Just gonna rock against your back. Is that okay?"

"Yeah," he grunts into the pillow and Gale begins to thrust his hips forward.

 "Please," Peeta begs, "Gale..…please...take care of me."

"I will," he answers and searches for Peeta's cock between his hips and the
mattress. "Take care of my sweet…uh… lil'one."

He buries his face in Peeta's neck and fists him harder than necessary, but
Peeta's eager responsive pushing shows him he likes that.

"Gonna make you cum so hard," he groans, his thrusts slow but powerful. The bed
is creaking, pushing against the wall. He can feel Peeta pulsing in his hand.

"Already?" he laughs.

"Sorry…" Peeta mewls, the sound of his voice muffled.

"That's quite alright," he responds, pressing against the head of Peeta's cock
with his thumb, using the wetness to massage him, the slickness making it
easier now.

"The night is still young."
===============================================================================

They are lying in each other's arms, heart rate slowing, sweat cooling their
bodies. He has one arm under Peeta's back, who uses it as pillow, nuzzling his
arm pit.

Gale never felt this relaxed after he had sex before. And he didn't even fuck.
Then, he realizes, that he only ever had sex at the slag heap. Never in a real
bed. He suddenly feels even closer to Peeta, curiously in love. It's strange.
He presses a soft kiss on Peeta's head and circles his right nipple with his
fingers, pinching it gently. They have to clean up, but he doesn't feel like
getting up at all, inhaling the scent of musky sweat and their cooling cum
which stained the sheets.

"We've got to tell her," Peeta says. "We've got to."

He wants to argue. Deny. They don't have to do anything. If they tell Katniss,
it'll be over. They will lose her. They will lose each other.

All he says is, "I know."

"I think we should do it tomorrow," Peeta continues.

No. Not that soon.

"Tomorrow?" he croaks.

"Tomorrow is as good as any day, Gale."
Peeta's breath is warm against his biceps.

"Don't you see? The longer this goes on, the more hurt it will cause. Isn't
this tearing you apart? I'm having a real crisis about it. Can't sleep, can't
eat. All I can think about is that I betrayed her. With you of all people! All
my life I've only ever loved Katniss. And now there is you. It's extremely
confusing. I have no intention of hurting her, but I think I already did. I did
and I can't take it back. We have to tell her. There is no other way."

"Even if it might mean losing both of us?" asks Gale, not wanting to hear the
answer. It is hard to imagine Peeta continuing this if Katniss cuts ties with
them. The pain, the guilt, no, it would be too hard to continue seeing each
other.

He knows Peeta is right, he knows they've got to talk to Katniss. But he
doesn't want to. He can't help but imagine the hurt look on her face. He had a
nightmare a few weeks ago, in which Katniss accused him of seducing Peeta.

"You took something that belonged to me,"she had said in the clearing in the
woods, wearing that flame-dress from the Games. Her eyes were greyer than usual
and her voice ice-cold."You took Peeta's love for me and transformed it into
something sick and twisted. You disgust me. Taking my happiness away. Soiling
his sweetness with your perverted slag heap ways. Doing this to me, after all
I've been through. You're a monster, Gale Hawthorne."

Then she started to laugh and her dress burned brighter, consuming her and he
woke up in cold sweat, shaking from fear.

Nightmare-Katniss isn't wrong. Not entirely. Peeta was a willing participant in
their meetings, true. But Gale was always the aggressor. Took him to the heap.
Made him crave the love of another man under the guise of learning how to
please the girl he loves. He made him believe his skills wouldn't be enough to
satisfy Katniss. He used Peeta's inexperience. Might've been that Katniss
would've enjoyed to be with a more innocent Peeta, so that they could begin to
explore sex together. Might've been that Katniss wanted a first time with a boy
who only ever had eyes for her. And Gale robbed her of that.

"Yeah," Peeta mumbles after a long time, "Even then."

Playing with Peeta's locks in the dark doesn't soothe him, like it did before.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles, "So sorry…"

"What for?" Peeta looks up to him, smiling and his something in his chest
squeezes painfully.

He knows very well that he used Peeta. He is aware that the town boy is
vulnerable, since that night at the heap. Peeta Mellark is desperate, that much
became obvious in the last weeks. Desperate for affection, for any sign of
love. He didn't get that from his family, he didn't get the physical affection
he craved from Katniss. The cuddling and the selflessness of Peeta in the
bedroom proves it. Peeta may not realize this himself, too eager to please. He
would probably deny it if Gale confronts him, so he just keeps on caressing
Peeta's curly head.

"For nothing, lil'one," he murmurs, "Nothing…"

They both fall asleep like this, arm in arm, scared, yet determined to tell
Katniss the truth.
 
===============================================================================


They decide to tell Katniss in the evening. There is a mandatory viewing
tonight, a show about the star-crossed lovers wedding and some special about
the Hunger Games. President Snow himself will make an appearance. They decide
to meet later that evening, when Gale slips out of the house in the morning,
leaving Peeta in bed, a quick peck on the forehead as a farewell. Peeta will
ask Katniss to come over in the evening. Make cheese buns in preparation, to
soften the blow, or so does Gale think.

But when President Snow announces that the tributes for the Quarter Quell will
be reaped from the existing pool of Victors, Gale runs out of the hut in the
Seam and retches into the dirt next to their little garden.

All hope is gone.

The little dreams he harbored of Katniss being okay with a relationship between
all three of them - gone. It's obvious to Gale that they can never tell
Katniss. She has to go back into the arena. They can't confront her with what
they did, can't force this knowledge on her before she has to battle for her
survival for the second time.

Gale never thought much about Haymitch Abernathy, but he wishes for nothing
more than for the drunkard Victor to go into the arena. His Catnip and his
Peeta, both of them can survive - if one stays out as a mentor. But Peeta will
never let that happen, he is similar to Gale in that regard.

Gale doesn't go to the Victor's Village that night, positive that Peeta and
Katniss will comfort each other, need each other with no outsiders intruding.
He hates that he is an outsider in this, cannot truly understand and share the
experiences they've gone through, they will go through again. Not that he wants
to. He wants to soothe both of their broken hearts, that is what he wants. To
help them any way he can. The probability of losing them both is too high.
Nobody survives the arena a second time.

When he returns from work the day after Katniss and Peeta are waiting for him
on the porch of his hut. Posy is out, playing some game with Peeta involving a
red thread and hands. Katniss jumps up when she sees him and walks over to him,
looking pale around the nose. Gale can't help but take her into his arms when
she is near.

"Oh, Catnip," he groans, pressing her small body closer to his.

"It's okay," Katniss says, awkwardly returning his hug, "Gale…" She pushes him
away gently.

"Look," she whispers, anxiously checking if Peeta is watching them. "I'm sorry.
He insisted on coming with me."

Of course, she is still not comfortable with both of them together at the same
time. What would she have said if they told her?

"We are here to ask you a favor," she continues, quietly so that Posy can't
hear.

"Don't worry," Gale reassures, smiling at Peeta and Posy, still deeply
enthralled in their game and then looks back at Katniss. "'I'll do anything."

She looks tired and pale, but for Gale Katniss Everdeen is still the most
beautiful girl and he doubts he will ever want to be with another, even if she
rejects him. She is special and her heart is good. He will do anything she asks
of him. Anything.

"We want to train, Gale. We need to train. Will you help us? Will you help us
train like the careers?"

Jaw clenching, he gives her a determined look. He will train them. Make them
harder. Make them survive.

He must.

"When do we start?" he asks and Katniss gives him a thankful smile, taking his
hands in hers. Her gaze finds Peeta and Posy who stopped playing the game with
the red yarn. She squeezes his hand tightly.

"Right now," she answers.
Chapter End Notes
     Training together, for the Quarter Quell. Will Gale and Peeta
     continue their relationship with Katniss so close to them? What do
     you think? ;)
***** In the Victor's Village *****
Chapter Summary
     Gale and Peeta spend their last weeks together before Reaping Day.
Chapter Notes
     Hello. As I'm having some troubles with my story The Red Letter Box I
     worked on this Chapter to distract myself and just finished it. It's
     in the nature of a ForestFairy fic that things get sad and angsty
     sooner or later. Forgive me. If you love this stuff, you'll like this
     Chapter and might feel a bit of excitement for a fic that is
     certainly not your average THG story. So without further ado...enjoy
     Chapter 5: In the Victor's Village.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
The heat is suffocating. Thick. It's not even summer yet - the reaping weeks in
the future. District 12's citizens are not used to this early heatwave. One can
see even the odd Peacekeeper regularly 'forgetting' to wear their helmet.

The sun is setting when Gale enters the Victor's Village and finds Katniss,
Peeta and Haymitch Abernathy on the porch of Peeta's house, each wearing a set
of exercising shorts and tight black T-Shirts. Katniss' signature braid is
loose, hanging lifelessly down her back. She sucks the last bit of liquid out
of some orange bottle. Abernathy looks like he is short of fainting, while
Peeta remains the only one left standing. Sweat trickles down his face, his
expression strict.

"Do you want to rest? Or do you want to survive? What is it with you, Katniss?
You thought you got everyone impressed with that tough girl act, but you turn
out to be a weakling, after all," he sneers.

He is so obvious in his manipulation that Katniss can only roll her eyes at
him, not gracing his insult with a reply.

"And Haymitch," Peeta continues, turning to his mentor, "You have barely made
it to twenty sit ups, when the plan was a fifty and, hey.. where are you
going?"

Abernathy stands up and staggers towards his house, not looking back.

"I'm going to sleep, boy," he snaps, his voice tired.

"Look, who's 'ere."  He points at Gale, "Someone new to torment. See you."

And with that he is gone. Peeta's eyes meet Gale's, lighting up. His eyes
flicker towards Katniss, who is untangling her braid, and when he is sure she
doesn't pay attention, he gives Gale a look that makes his heart flutter. How
is he able to do that, with just the blinking of his eyes? Despite the heat, a
small blush forms on Gale's cheeks. He coughs once and then moves closer.

"How is it going?" he asks Katniss, ignoring Peeta.

"Oh, hi Gale," Katniss rasps, "Didn't see you there, for a second."

Beginning to braid her wavy hair, she tightens the dark strands. Sweat is
running down her face and he watches, fascinated by a small, liquid bead that
drops from her chin into her cleavage. His eyes grow large when he sees
Katniss' two mounds moving up with her arms, pressed neatly together, clad in
what he guesses must be a very tight bra. Only on TV, in the gown she wore in
the Capitol had Gale ever seen her tits like this. Full. Ready to be fondled.
His mouth goes dry, and his hands twitch. He wants to see her all bared for
him, her nipples, dark and perky, those tight little nubs exposed, those sweet
little peaks raised towards him, tempting and….

He looks away quickly, aware that his cock is stirring and that's something he
doesn't want her to see. Instead his gaze meets that of Peeta Mellark and his
cock shrinks, as if he jumped into ice water. There is pain in Peeta's eyes. A
hurt he hasn't seen before today. His face changes the second their eyes meet,
Peeta smiling again, that horrible smile he sports when he is hiding his real
feelings, his anger - or his pain.

"Hello Gale," he says, voice steady, betraying no emotion, "Ready for some
workout?"

"Peeta," Katniss groans from the left. "Let Gale rest for a second, okay? He
just got here."

Her voice is high pitched and - surprisingly - annoyed.

"It's okay Catnip," he says, "I know time is an issue."

"No, it's not," she insists, "I need some rest, okay? This pensum is too tough
on me, especially when it's humid like today. And you had a twelve hour shift
in the mines. I think we should call it a day."

"But.." Peeta tries to intervene.

"No buts. Enough is enough," Katniss says, looking longingly to the opposite
row of houses, "Gale, do you want something cold to drink? You can come to my
house, Prim made lemonade."

Gale looks from Peeta to Katniss and back again. Confusion is building up
inside of him. What is happening between these two?

"Eh," he hesitates, trying to catch Peeta's gaze, but the town boy studies his
shoes. He looks back at Katniss.

"Okay?"

"Then come on," she says, even holding out her hand. What the hell?

He takes it and she drags him over to her house. Before they go in, he sneaks a
short glance back at Peeta who is still standing there, shoulders slumped,
studying his shoes as if they're the most fascinating artwork he's ever seen.
Something in Peeta's posture makes his insides clench painfully, but then the
door is closing and he is in Katniss' pleasantly cold house.

"Phew," Katniss exhales, "This heat is killing me."

She meets his gaze. "I'm sorry. I know, the mines are worse. I shouldn't
complain."

"S'alright," he says, following her into the kitchen. "What about…why didn't
you invite Peeta?"

"Because I need a break from that little slave herder," she says, opening the
fridge and taking out a flask of lemonade. "He's been insufferable, Gale. He
doesn't let us rest. Haymitch almost fainted from exhaustion earlier. But do
you think he cares? No, it's only, 'You got to try harder'. Each day, every
hour. I'm sick of it."

"But Catnip," Gale says gently, "He only wants you guys to survive. That's why
he is so strict with you."

She pours him a glass of lemonade and slides down on one of the chairs. "I
know." Her voice turns softer.

"He wants me to win. I should be glad that he hasn't given up on himself
completely. He pushes himself to the limit, too, with his leg. But I also want
to see Prim. My mother…..and you. These might be my last days with you, these
might be my last days - period. I don't want to spend them doing crunches."

"Oh, Catnip," he whispers.

"It's alright," she says, licking a drop of lemonade from her hand, changing
the subject.
"So, how is your mother doing?"
===============================================================================


Gale spends the evening with the Everdeens. Katniss' mother arrives later and
instructs her youngest daughter to rub in some healing ointment onto his fading
scars on his back. They play a card game until Prim starts to yawn and Mrs.
Everdeen announces it is time for bed. He says goodbye to them, and hugs
Katniss on the porch. She watches him leave, so he walks through the gate of
the village, waving back at her. When she finally closes the door, he turns
around and creeps through the darkness, around Peeta's house and lets himself
into the kitchen, like he did so many nights before. The house is silent. 'Like
a grave,' he thinks, and shudders. Peeta isn't dead yet. He is alive. Here.
Somewhere. It's dark in the house, but Gale has been here enough, to know where
to go. A ghostly shimmer seems to waver through every corner of the old
building.

He climbs up the stairs and sees no light shining under the doors in any room.
Has Peeta gone to bed? It's still early…He goes forward and opens Peeta's
bedroom door, immediately making out the silhouette of a boy standing in front
of the open window.

"Hey," he says and Peeta turns around, making Gale gasp. He is stark naked.

"Hey," Peeta answers, "I've been waiting for you."

"Really?" Gale asks, perplexed, "I thought we decided not to continue…this."

They met once, after the Quell announcement, a few minutes before Katniss
joined them with Haymitch for a lesson in snare building. They had exchanged a
few awkward words, and agreed that they should focus on training and try not to
get distracted. Which was easier said than done. Being close to one another and
being close to Katniss at the same time wasn't only confusing to Gale, it was
also highly arousing. But usually the thought 'They are going to die,' worked
as a mood destroyer and Gale had no problems holding himself back.

"We did. But I had a feeling you would come to me anyway," Peeta smiles and
cocks his head to the left, "Don't you wanna make out a bit? Enjoy me, one last
time?" He steps closer, and Gale feels himself growing hard. Peeta is almost
close enough to kiss, he can look him in the eye.

"Look down," Peeta orders and he follows the request.

"That's right," his boy moans, and presses a kiss on Gale's adam's apple, "Your
lil' one is not so little now, huh?"

Peeta's cock is standing erect, dripping with need.

"Peeta…"

"Yeah," Peeta replies, "This is all for you, Gale. Only you can make me that
hard, that 'needy'. Didn't you promise? Told me you would teach me about sex?"

Gale manages a nod and Peeta begins to unbutton his shirt.

"You are a skilled teacher. Taught me all there is to know. All there is to
know about a girl's body. Every night I jerk off, thinking about it. Gale did
this." He presses a kiss on Gale's nipple.

"And Gale did that," he kisses the other, licks a circle around it, and nibbles
it lightly with his teeth, biting it gently, "Oh, I go crazy with need when I
think about all the things we did together."

He continues to undress him, opens up Gales fly with deft fingers, "I love your
cock," he whispers, and touches Gale's bulging undershorts. "Sucking you off
was like a dream come true. I can die happy, remembering the taste of your cum
on my tongue."

Gale certainly enjoys the attention and smiles, when Peeta pushes down his
shorts, but somehow….something is off tonight. Peeta isn't usually that
forward, talking dirty. He is active in bed, but this seems almost
like….seduction.

Weird.

"Come," Peeta says, and takes him by the hand. He walks over to the end of the
bed and then lets go.

"Watch this," he says and climbs on the bed first, but then leans over the
edge, knees on the ground, ass raised towards him and Gale's cock swells into
full hardness at this visually very stimulating sight.  

"You can fuck me in the ass tonight," Peeta says towards the wall, "Like you
fucked the girls on the heap. Like you want to fuck…." his voice breaks,
"...Katniss."

And suddenly Gale sees that this is wrong. This is not the Peeta he knows. He
doesn't know what exactly this is, doesn't understand what brought this on. His
cock is still hard, painfully so. Everything in his body seems to scream, 'Go.
He's asking, he's begging, what more do you need…' And even Peeta, seems to
read his thoughts, feel his hesitation.

"Ride me, Gale," Peeta's voice is almost inaudible.

This submissive act…. Peeta knows exactly what drives Gale wild in bed. He
regularly had a hard time holding back his orgasms when Peeta put on that
demure look, left his mouth slack for kissing, offered his neck in a vulnerable
gesture to let him suck on it. In short left it to Gale to dominate their
petting.
Submitting his body to him like that….Peeta is trying to get him forget
everything about the situation, obviously wants him to follow his more primal
urges, for some unknown reason.

"No," he says and takes a step back, not wanting to play along. Peeta turns
around in what seems like slow motion. There are tears on his cheeks.

"Why not? I'm ready."

"No. You're not," Gale shakes his head. This is not right.

"Take me before I go to die," Peeta whimpers, "Take me hard until I bleed."

"Wait a minute…" The bad feeling returns full force. This is not good. Make him
bleed?

"Don't go gentle," Peeta croaks, "Because this is the last time….the last time
in my pathetic life that I'll ever get to feel something.... Please."

"Stop it, lil'one," Gale yells, through the eerie silence of the house and then
remembers the window is still open. Tears run down his own face, as he swallows
hard. He turns around, takes a second to compose himself and closes the window,
not needing anyone to overhear this. Then he turns around once more and walks
to where Peeta curled himself into a ball on the bed.

"Please," Peeta sniffles, "I need it….Why won't you help me?"

Gale sits down, on the edge of the mattress. Next to him, unsure of what to do.
His poor Peeta. Fuck the Capitol.

"Why won't you?" his boy repeats, followed by a sob.

"Oh, lil'one," he whispers and tucks a blond lock behind his ear, stroking his
head.

"I only want her to survive," he whispers, "Why can't she see?"

"She knows that."

"I want you two to live a long life. Grow old together. This is my plan…but why
does it hurt so badly? Seeing you, looking at her, like that. Why am I so
jealous? I do it all the time, every minute we are together. I imagine all
sorts of stuff…and then I get angry when you do the same."

"That's natural, Peeta," Gale says. "You don't have to be ashamed about these
feelings."

"Is it? Or is it only selfishness? The worst thing about it is that deep down,
I'm scared. Wanna protect her. But I'm frightened to the core of my being…I
don't want to go in again. Gale, I…in reality I…" He pauses.

"…I don't want to die," Peeta whispers finally, as if he's been thinking this
all along and only now, in the darkest of nights, naked with Gale in his bed,
seems to confess this fact to himself. Gale almost laughs. It's ridiculous, his
boy is ashamed - because he is not having a death wish, wants to survive. He is
just seventeen years old, damn it. But this situation is so serious and grave
that the laugh gets stuck in his throat.

"My lil'one," Gale says soothingly and continues to stroke through the blond
locks, "This is not selfish at all. The Hunger Games and the arena…all this is
unfair. You have a right to be angry, and you have a right to be and stay
alive. A right to live. It's the Capitol, they are the ones who destroy all
these lives, all the hope and the future of the districts."

Peeta looks at him, eyes still swimming with tears, sniffling.

"C'mere," Gale says, opening his arms and Peeta gets up slowly, as if he's a
hundred years old.

"Here, sit on my leg." Peeta moves closer and positions himself sideways,
sitting on his lap, legs caught between his. Gale gently strokes his back,
enjoying the feeling of  Peeta's balls rubbing against his bare thigh.

"Why won't you?" Peeta whispers into his ear, asks this question for a third
time.

"Because you want it to be her, lil'one," Gale says, nuzzling his cheek.
"You've always wanted it to be her. I'm not going to take that away from you."

Peeta begins to play with the hairs on his chest.

"It's not going to happen," he says, and hangs his head in a defeated gesture,
"Not in this life."

Gale shakes his head, "You don't know that," he retorts. He must think of a way
to distract Peeta from the horrible darkness, the bleak thoughts that control
his mind, that shape his reality since the announcement, and then an idea hits
him.

"Have you noticed how hot Katniss looked in these tight trainers?"

"What?" Peeta still seems to be caught in a web of dark feelings. "Why?"

"Didn't you see that wet stain between her thighs? Wouldn't surprise me if that
was more than sweat, down there. You being all bossy all day. No wonder it gets
her juices flowing. Bet she couldn't wait to get away because she wanted to
finger herself. Bet she is thinking of you ordering her to strip, to expose
herself to you. Can you see her lying down, getting rid of that restricting
shirt? Can you see her massaging her little tits? She is definitely fantasizing
about you. Begging for you to suck on her nipples, dreaming about your tongue,
coating them generously with your spit."

He is back in his element. Dirty talk about Katniss is Peeta's favorite. This
is the perfect way to distract him.

Peeta twitches on his leg, rubbing back and forth and Gale grins to himself.

"She would love that, wouldn't she? Having your talented mouth on her, that
would be a dream come true for any girl. She would take off her slip, her bare
pussy already soaking wet. Ready for you," Gale continues, softly. "Katniss
would slip her fingers inside, open her lips to show you…everything. Just for
you, she starts to touch herself looking at you through these grey eyes… and
then….she would beg for you to finger her."

"Gale stop," Peeta moans, but his returning erection and the way his whole body
jerks, squirms in need of friction makes Gale think that he doesn't want him to
stop after all, "Don't do this…"

"Why not?"

"Where are you?" Peeta counters.

"Huh?"

"Where are you, when I'm with Katniss?" Peeta's eyes are closed, he seems lost
in the fantasy, "Are you watching us?"

"No…I mean, maybe…I don't know," Gale hesitates. This is something Peeta never
asked before when they fantasized about Katniss.

Peeta opens his eyes and looks at Gale, "You watch her, don't you?"  He sighs,
the pink on his cheeks, fading, "Her and only her…."

"That's not true, Peeta," Gale says quickly, "We share. Yeah, we share her
between us. You suck on one tit and I on the other and we both finger her pussy
at the same time. That's how it is."

Peeta raises an eyebrow and Gale suddenly realizes that this sounded awfully
clinical, almost scripted. Like he never thought about it and just made it up
in this moment to come up with a reciprocation. But that's not true. He did
think about watching Katniss and Peeta before.

"Okay," Peeta says, looking down at his slowly softening cock. "That sounds
nice."

Gale feels panic rising in his chest. How can he make Peeta see that this is
not about his fantasies with Catnip? That this is about Peeta….how?

"No," he says, "Forget it. Forget Catnip. Tonight, there is only us. And that's
not a fantasy, it's real. Let's not think or talk about her anymore, okay?"

"How is that even possible? It's always all about her. She is the reason why
you talked to me in the first place. She is the reason why you offered to be
with me. You openly disliked me before…"

"That's bullshit. I like you. I like you a lot. You're sweet and kind. And
nice. I could never hate you," he pleads, knowing that in all these little
accusations some element of truth remains.

"I wouldn't have returned here every fucking night if I hated you. I love being
with you. You're important to me, lil'one," he tries to explain and leans in
for a kiss, but Peeta turns his head away and he huffs out a breath of
frustration. How can he be that stubborn? He grabs Peeta's chin, turning his
head back.

"Stop it. Aren't you the same? Don't you dare to blame me, because I love
Katniss too."

His hand leaves Peeta's chin to slap it over his mouth.

That was…. a confession. Of love. He just told Peeta Mellark that he loves him.

Peeta blinks once, then twice but otherwise doesn't seem very fazed. Gale wants
to take everything back. He can't just simply tell Peeta that he loves him.
Maybe it's the truth. Maybe not. But saying something like this is huge. He
shouldn't have done it. He tries to gently untangle himself from Peeta, shove
him off his lap, but the town boy wraps his arms around his neck and moves
closer and gives him a kiss on his eyebrow. Gale is strangely aware of Peeta's
body in this position, his artificial leg, his cock, his balls…his bare ass
pressing against Gale's thigh.

"Will you let me suck you off?" Peeta is already nuzzling his neck, pressing
short sucks on the side.

"Mmmhh, yeah," Gale moans, happy that Peeta decided to let it go, ignore what
he said - not make a big deal out of it. He doesn't seem to feel pressured to
say it back either.  Starting to play with Peeta's testicles, Gale pets the
regrown pubes gently and then forms a tunnel with his fist. Peeta positions
himself, pushes his cock inside to get back into hardness, "Let's do this. I
wanna blow you, my sweet lil'one. I'll make you cum first."

"Not fair," Peeta chuckles against his lips, rubbing himself against Gale and
he smiles. Peeta stands up and moves back on the bed, making Gale's rub the
thigh he sat on. He is heavy.

"Do you wanna be on top?" he asks from the bed, voice suddenly shy and Gale
shakes his head.

"Let's do it lying on the side. That's more comfortable for both of us," he
says, unconsciously taking over the lead again, returning to that familiar
pattern.
When he takes Peeta into his mouth he focuses all his energy on making this the
best blow job he possibly can. It's harder because he gets distracted by
Peeta's gentle sucking, but he tries to stay focused. He wants to give Peeta a
night to remember. A night where he feels loved and treasured, maybe for the
first time in his life. It's another reason why he doesn't regret his
confession of love. If that makes Peeta happy, even for a few hours, then there
is no problem. Maybe it'll even help him fight for his own life in the Quell
arena. Gale tries to put all the energy into loving Peeta that night. Make him
lose count of the times he comes and only leaves in the early hours of morning
when the birds begin their songs of a new day.
===============================================================================


The night before the reaping arrives faster than Gale likes. Every free minute
he has is spent in the company of Katniss and Peeta, and occasionally Haymitch
Abernathy, whom he secretly hates for being a weakling. Years and years of
alcohol abuse make it obvious that he won't stand a chance in the arena. If he
would be more fit, it might've been possible to make Peeta rethink his plan to
volunteer as tribute. But as it is, even with Peeta's leg he is leagues above
Haymitch's level when it comes to physical fitness.

He returns to Peeta's bed every night. It is impossible to stay away. Peeta
doesn't beg to be fucked again and no matter how much Gale longs to bury his
cock between those beautiful, soft globes, he knows, deep down that they
shouldn't. Maybe Katniss will show Peeta some affection when they're in the
Capitol. He almost feels sorry for Peeta, as Katniss often scowls at him, moans
about the training, or refuses to show up on time. He knows she's under a lot
of pressure. It must be harder for her, knowing that she won't even have a
choice. Her odds aren't fifty-fifty, she definitely goes back in. He wonders
how she's coping some days, but then he sees Prim waving to them and the smile
is back on Katniss' face. Katniss gets her strength from the love she has for
her sister. Peeta's family doesn't show up once. He spends a lot of time with
Haymitch, and Gale believes that the older victor took over a more fatherly
part in Peeta's life, as his own father seems to have forgotten his son exists.

He goes to the Victor's Village after work and helps them in every way he can.
When he returns to Peeta's bedroom at night he is often too exhausted to move.
They cuddle most nights or do some slow kissing, sometimes jerking each other
off lazily, playing with their cocks. But mostly the night ends with Peeta
sucking him to completion and them falling asleep in each other's arms. He
feels guilty, because he doesn't have the energy to return the favor most
nights, but Peeta reassures him that he loves to do it, that it doesn't matter.
On these nights he falls asleep with Peeta jerking off quietly, while they look
into each other's eyes, Peeta's soft moans the only sound echoing in the huge
dark house in the Victor's Village.
===============================================================================


They don't have to work on the day of the reaping, it's Sunday. The mood in the
district seems light. He wonders why that is and only then realizes that this
is the first year in living memory that the kids of the district don't have to
be scared of their name being called. No matter if they took tesserae or not,
this year they can sleep soundly. Unless their names are Katniss Everdeen or
Peeta Mellark. Gale doesn't blame the kids, starting with his brother Rory.
It's cruel and he swears that no matter what will happen to Katniss and Peeta,
he cannot stand for it much longer. The Hunger Games have to stop. Snow's
government has to be stopped. And soon. 'Even if it's too late for my loved
ones,' he thinks. 'There are so many left who don't deserve growing up in
fear.'

Gale cleans himself and dresses in his old reaping clothes. He has plans to
visit both Peeta and Katniss in the justice building, before they leave. Tell
them to look after each other. And even….that he loves them. He told Peeta
before, but thinking about it clearly the day after, he thinks Peeta might've
misunderstood. Did not recognize the meaning of a confession like this. He
didn't react to it, never mentioned it later. He wants to take them both into
his arms embrace them tight.

He refuses to think about the odds. That he will most definitely lose them
both. And that the chance of one of them coming out of this as a winner is
almost nil. President Snow didn't orchestrate this Quell so that Katniss can
get her happily ever after. No, he wants to be rid of her, in the most
effective way. What better way to do it than let other Victors kill her? Turn
the Districts against each other instead of turning against the Capitol.
Typically not getting his hands dirty.

And Peeta? What chance does he stand against seasoned Victors who are skilled
at killing and have no scruples? The leg still slows him down, the training
hardly effective.

No, the chances are not good. But he can't dwell on this fact or he will go
insane, or worse start crying when it's time to say goodbye. Since his father
died, he has cried once. Since he's been with Peeta he realizes, he has cried
several times. With him. Because of him. Gale shudders. Peeta Mellark has had
an effect on his life. He knows he can never return to be the Gale Hawthorne he
was before they met on that cold winter night. The guy who took countless girls
to the heap….and still. He loves to have sex with girls and can't imagine
stopping that.

Fact is that he hasn't been with a girl since winter. Peeta Mellark's bed was
too warm, too comforting, too satisfying. No need for a girl. It's a strange
thought, that being with a boy is making him happy like that.

Deep down he knows that Peeta is not only just some boy whom he used to satisfy
curiosity. Just like Katniss isn't just some girl he decided to love, because
he found her attractive.

They mean more.

Both of them.
===============================================================================


Gale shouldn't have worried. After Katniss is reaped and Peeta volunteers for
Haymitch, they are quickly taken away. He can hear Primrose screaming somewhere
in the crowd. Long after Katniss disappeared from his sight does he finally
dare to blink. Now they are gone. For good. He turns around and walks back to
his family, waiting for him at the edge of the street.

Reaping Day and once more the heat is suffocating . But Gale Hawthorne's heart
is frozen. He feels numb. Weirdly detached. Staring at a pair of peacekeepers,
walking past them, he has to work hard to keep his expression neutral. He feels
like a pawn in a game. And he has no idea who is playing or why. His hate
towards the Capitol is the only torch that could melt the numbness, he knows.
 
===============================================================================


Gale doesn't dare to miss the viewings of The Hunger Games at the town square.
Back in the first Games his heart was beating wildly for Katniss. It was all
about her, he didn't give a damn about Peeta Mellark, even secretly hoped he
would die. So that Katniss would be free of the baggage. Could only look after
herself. But Peeta had helped her out. He had kept her alive and saved her.
Just as she saved him. Watching this Quarter Quell is almost maddening.
Worrying about two people he loves, he'd rather work all day in the mines, not
seeing any of this. He doesn't want to know if they are dead. Because with
their death, hope dies.

A few people hesitantly ask him if he's okay. He appreciates the kindness, he
really does. But they have no idea that Peeta and Katniss didn't secretly marry
and made a baby. He doesn't even wonder for a second if there is any truth in
it. It's simply the desperate try of Peeta to stop what he knows that can't be
stopped. Maybe they found some solace in these last days before the Quell.
Maybe Peeta could finally fulfill his wish to be with Katniss, to have sex with
the girl he loves so much for the first time.

When he watches Peeta and Katniss kiss in a recap of the daily highlights, he
knows instinctively that this is the first time they've ever kissed like this.
Katniss seems to be a bit clumsy at first and it looks like Peeta took his
lessons to heart.

"This is how you kiss," he had told Peeta one evening at the slag heap and they
did nothing but kiss for hours until both of their jaws were starting to ache.
The way Peeta whimpers in response to Katniss tongue in his mouth makes his
cock swell a bit. It's like he can almost taste Peeta's saliva, feel his tongue
playing with his and whimpering for him, begging for more.

More of Gale. Or for more affection. Gale doesn't know which it is. The
situation is what it is, so he has no reason to question his feelings for Peeta
or the boy's motives when it came to their relationship. Has Peeta felt what he
felt? Did he crave Gale, the person? Or only affection and love, no matter who
gave them? They won't see each other again and there are more important things
to worry about. His family. The Everdeens. And the future of Panem.

That's what he's thinking about when he is in the mines, deep down under the
earth, every day, each day during the hot summer of the 75th Hunger Games.
Whispers reach his ears, whispers that make his hands sweaty, and his heart
pound with positive excitement. Something is moving, something is happening.
Finally.

While most of his fellow miners looked away when he had been whipped, these
days they look at him with respect in their eyes. Kind of like you would look
at a leader. They seem to ask him questions, hidden behind words that are
seemingly innocent. It's frustrating that he can't help them. That he doesn't
have a plan, no clue, no information about an uprising in the district or some
underground group. He can only disappoint people and shrug, when they pester
him, with questions that appear just a tad too innocent.
 
===============================================================================


It's an early morning, when Gale is awakened by high pitched croaking. A flock
of crows are making a fuss outside so he turns to the open window to shoo them
away. A small airplane can be seen in the distance, and Gale stares at it in
wonder. Other than hovercrafts he has never seen any flying objects over the
District. He doesn't think much of it, turns back inside when he hears the
signal of a leaving train. From the not so distant station. An unscheduled
train in District 12?  That leaves at 4 in the morning? He decides to
investigate, puts on his shoes and runs out of the door to look at the tracks
from a smaller hill, some Seam kids used to slide down from in winter when he
was younger. He can just make out the train rushing past and can see inside for
a short second.

The passengers are men - wearing white.

Peacekeepers.
Leaving the District.
The foreboding, the tension he felt for weeks reaches a new high. Every nerve
in his body is tense, alert. Something bad is going to happen. Soon. He has no
idea what, but he knows he has to get his family out of here. Fast.

Gale Hawthorne starts to run.
===============================================================================


"Are you alright, Gale?" Laika asks softly, touching his arm. He looks up at
her and shakes his head.

There are too many, so many he couldn't save. He couldn't find Namy the first
girl he made love with. He didn't see Becca or Billy from the mines. So many
lost, so many dying in the chaos. He stares out of the small window of the
Hovercraft that brings the people of District 12 to District 13.

"I'll leave you alone," she says and turns away, towards her husband. Mrs.
Everdeen and Primrose sit side by side on the floor. His mother is holding
small Posy, while his brothers look scared and confused. The bombs, the heat,
the fire. He will never forget. And he will never forget the screams of those
who didn't make it. Most town people. Beautiful blond Madge Undersee, with the
sad eyes. And….the Mellarks. Perhaps his biggest regret. He couldn't save them.
They are dead, burned to the ashes in their bakery. Erased by the Capitol.
Forever. And he is also at fault. He didn't make them priority.

"Forgive me, lil'one," he murmurs to himself, when fatigue overwhelms him and
he falls in an uneasy sleep, high up in the clouds over a country newly shaped
by turmoil and finally, yes, finally…

Rebellion.
Chapter End Notes
     Uh, uh...a rebellion. Gale will be in his element in District 13.
     What does that mean for his relationship with Katniss? And what about
     poor Peeta, left behind to be taken Prisoner by the evil president?
     Where will this end?
***** In Tigris' Basement *****
Chapter Summary
     Hijacked Peeta is rescued by the rebels and Gale's hatred against the
     Capitol clouds his jugdment.
Chapter Notes
     Sorry for the long wait. But I guess with the release of the last
     movie sob, a Gale/Peeta fanfic is the last thing you wanted these
     days, haha. I hope you enjoy Chapter 6: In Tigris' Basement.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
When Gale looked back at his time in District 13 many years later, he never
could quite pin point where it all went wrong. It’s easy to make excuses, but
in all honesty every decision and each step that he took in District 13 had
been carefully thought through. And it all seemed right - at the time. It all
seemed clear. Destroy the Capitol. The end justifies the means, and Gale could
only admit to himself years later, that he’d been wrong, but back in Thirteen
and during the rebellion it didn’t seem that way.

He remembers feeling confusion, sadness, anger, excitement and, although it was
hard to admit it, fear. It had really been a rollercoaster of emotions, when he
was told about Katniss being rescued.

"What about Peeta?" he had wanted to scream at Haymitch Abernathy, who
pretended to care, but obviously didn't. But he never did. He never let anyone
know about his anguish. About his thoughts. About his nightmares. His mother
was getting worried about him, he knew. In these days he kept distancing
himself from his family. Often found himself seeking out Katniss' company.
After a while even that didn't soothe him. It was obvious that Katniss couldn't
handle the separation from Peeta. She never told him about her pain. Was she in
love with Peeta? Did she love Gale? Or maybe both of them? She never opened up.
And so he didn't either. He didn't even know what he could have said, how he
should have talked to her about it.

They showed an interview with Peeta and Caesar Flickerman on Capitol TV. Peeta
got worse and worse during these interviews and Gale felt sick to his stomach.
They were torturing his boy.
They were doing who knows what to him in that horrible place.
Guilt was another painful emotion during these days. Guilt about his pursuing
Peeta. Guilt for what they did in Peeta's house in the Victor's Village. He
never wanted to go there in the first place. Peeta had insisted on them meeting
in this house, which had never really been Peeta’s to begin with. It had been
comfortable and cozy, but in hindsight a bad idea, to spend so much of their
time there.

Katniss wasn’t a big support in these days, so Gale found himself drawn to
Beetee Latier, the technical genius victor, who was bound to a wheelchair
through the destruction of the Quell Arena, after talking to the man at lunch
one day. Beetee had casually mentioned that the Capitol had all the Victor's
houses bugged, so they had opted to keep Peeta and Katniss in the dark, about
the rebellion. Gale had gone pale and excused himself quickly, running to one
of the few public bathrooms and retched is lunch up.
The Capitol knew. They knew everything that had happened between Peeta and
Gale, had heard every word exchanged, every fight they had had, every time they
had met for their more passionate adventures. It wasn't hard to imagine that
Peeta would be paying for these short hours of love, in the worst possible way.

Katniss became the Mockingjay.
Gale should've been proud, but he only felt a certain emptiness and anger at
himself. Whenever Peeta turned up on TV again, each time detoriating more he
wondered when he would crack. And maybe, some part of him feared that the
Capitol would exploit that the star-crossed lovers were just a scam. That Peeta
Mellark hadn't been dutifully in love with Katniss, that he didn't marry her,
that they didn't make a baby. No, that Peeta Mellark had never gone that far
with a girl, that he had been with Katniss Everdeen's cousin, who was not her
cousin at all.

Gale didn't care about his own reputation or image. If that came out he could
live with it - he survived worse. But how would that affect the Districts?
Katniss position as the Mockingjay? And - most importantly - Katniss herself?
During these long days underground Gale understood one thing quite quickly:
Katniss wasn't as strong as everyone wanted her to be. He understood that. But
Plutarch Heavensbee and Alma Coin didn't.

Katniss was short of collapsing. There was only one thing that could be done to
get Katniss back on track. Get Peeta Mellark back to her. When Heavensbee
announced they were searching for volunteers, Gale was the first one to enter
the hovercraft. He had been going slightly crazy without Peeta by his side. He
needed to try to get him back alive. He owed that to Peeta, to Katniss and to
himself. Rescue his lil'one - or die trying.

It had been easy, too easy and Gale had felt it from the moment his feet
touched the Capitol ground. That this was some sort of trap. He didn't know
yet, what kind of trap it was, but oh, he would learn it sooner than later.
Deep down, in the training center of the Capitol they had rescued a skeleton
like creature, he later learned was Johanna Mason. And a woman called Enobaria,
also a Victor of the Quell. And in the farthest corner, bruised, unconscious
and beaten was Peeta. Gale nearly sobbed when he saw him. It couldn't be. It
hadn't been that long. A few weeks, months at most, since he and Peeta had last
pleasured each other in Peeta's bed. He knew Peeta's body and this was a pale
imitation. He was so small, so light….it had been shocking. Gale had cradled
Peeta into his arms and refused to let go of him until the returned to District
13 many hours later. He had wanted to be with Peeta when he woke up, but
Katniss looked so ecstatic and happy when she came into the infirmary that he
decided not to intrude. He would talk to Peeta later.

Then all hell broke loose.
===============================================================================


Gale spent his weeks with training, training for his mission. They would go
into the Capitol and they would overthrow the government. They would kill Snow.
Gale didn't really think much about morals or right or wrong during these days.
Destruction was all that was on his mind. It was all he could do to forget
about what happened. Strangely enough he became closer to Katniss at that time.
At daytime they spent every minute together, training hard, going to the
Districts. Preparing for war. At nighttime he and Beetee planned different
things.

Military times were strict here, and usually Gale did everything they told him.
He agreed with the lifestyle and even enjoyed it. Alma Coin, the rebel leader
had taken a liking to him. He felt, in a small corner of his mind, proud that
she trusted him. Authorities, like teachers or peacekeepers, or even fore
workers in the mines never made him feel worth much. He was just another boy
from the Seam whose life plan would be to marry some gal and produce life
fodder for the Hunger Games, while he himself would work himself to death in
the mines - for the Capitol. But in District 13 he felt like someone of
importance to a cause. The cause to overthrow the government. He could finally
make them feel the pain he suffered since childhood. Changing the world seemed
possible, just within his grasp. If Peeta and Katniss wouldn't have existed, he
could've been happy. Happy with himself and his role, free for the first time
in his life. Yes, it wasn't at all bad in Thirteen was it?

He had only visited Peeta once, a week after Peeta had attacked Katniss, nearly
strangled her to death - nearly killed her.

Hijacking they had called it.

Gale had a hard time believing that something like this was even possible.
Until he saw it for himself.

It had been midnight and pitch dark in the long corridors of Thirteen. His
sleeping quarters were a long way back from the hospital wing where Peeta laid,
in a strait jacket, strapped to the bed. There was only one nurse, sitting in
front of the window when Gale arrived. He had chosen this hour because he
didn't want any witnesses to this. The nurse raised her eyebrows when he stated
his name and that he wanted to see Peeta, but then shrugged as if it wasn't her
business and pushed the button so that he could enter. Strangely enough it was
bright as day inside. He wondered how Peeta could relax or even sleep in this
bright light, but for some reason they kept the light on.

Peeta wasn't asleep. He was awake and he was staring at Gale. Not saying
anything. Only staring, out of these hollow eyes. Gale shuddered.

"Peeta," he said, "Hello."

Peeta didn't answer. There was only the humming sound of the electric light,
which flittered in the background.

"Do….do you remember me?" he asked. It was a stupid question, really. Or maybe
not. As far as Gale knew, Peeta remembered a lot of his old life. That wasn’t
connected to Katniss.

There was a blond girl from District 12, a town girl that kept visiting Peeta.
They told him her name was Delly Cartwright, daughter of the deceased
shoemaker. Another girl of Katniss’ and Peeta’s class. Peeta had never
mentioned that blond girl. She was friendly, even blushed a bit when he had
talked to her before. Her personality kind of made up for her not so beautiful
face. She certainly didn't look like Katniss or Gale, or even Mia. She was far
from Peeta's type. And Peeta had never mentioned this girl, Delly, when they
had been together, so it was safe to say that she was really just a childhood
friend. Still - Gale had been feeling jealous of her from the moment they had
told him, that she and Peeta had been friends. He imagined all kinds of things.
Maybe she was that busty type of town girl he often imagined Peeta would have
taken to his house. Exactly the type of girl he had forbidden Peeta to see.
'You're not to meet with a girl again, only Katniss,' that was what he had told
Peeta. Never knowing if Peeta did what he was told or not. He had spent so much
time in the mines. What had Peeta been up to during the day?

Peeta kept staring. And then he answered, voice rough, "You're Gale Hawthorne."

"Yeah," Gale affirmed, quickly. He wasn't sure what to ask, or say next. 'Do
you remember us?' or 'I'm so happy to have you back, lil'one' were obvious
choices. The nurse was listening and he didn't want to see Peeta go crazy and
answer questions from the doctors about their topic of conversation. If
conversation was even possible. Peeta’s eyes were bloodshot, he looked
positively lunatic. Gale wondered if he had trouble sleeping without any drugs.
Maybe he had been addicted to his daily dose of tracker jacker venom, resulting
in cold turkey since his arrival in District 13. They certainly wouldn’t want
to waste any precious medicine to help Peeta Mellark come down from drugs. Even
though Peeta had warned them about the attack, he was far from popular in this
place.

"What are you doing here?" Peeta said, when Gale realised he had been staring
into these blue eyes without saying a word for minutes.

"I came to visit," he answered, trying to interpret these neutral words.

"I can see that," Peeta said coldly, "Why though?"

Good question. Impossible to answer. Gale didn’t know what to say and moved
closer to the bed. Gripping one metallic bedpost in his hand.

"Wanted to see you," he mumbled, staring at the blanket.

Peeta huffed out something between a bark and a laugh.

"Stop touching the bedpost," Peeta said, making Gale take away his hand
quickly, "Leave. I don’t want to see you."

Gale felt a little pressure in his bladder, cursing that he didn’t go to the
toilet before coming here. His hands became sweaty and it felt like all the air
has left the room.

"Peeta, don’t you remember…?" he began, not sure how to end the sentence.

"Oh, I do. I do remember, Gale Hawthorne," Peeta hissed and his voice was
venomous, almost silent. "Go now. Go to your mutt. Deserve each other. You two
do."

Gale met Peeta’s eyes, shocked. "Don’t look at me like this. I don’t care if
you fuck the mutt. Just don’t you dare to fucking touch me, Hawthorne. Don’t
want you to touch me with these dirty hands. Stop. Stop it. Go…now.. away…"

"Peeta," he began, " Lil’ one…" There was obvious a pleading edge to Gale’s
voice, he couldn’t help it.

"I wanna help you. We can talk about Katniss. Or not. We can…also talk about
us. Or stay silent together. Please listen to me."

Peeta pushed his head against the pillow repeatedly.
If he was starting seizures, Gale didn’t want to be caught in here.

"Mutt. Lover….Muttlover. First me, then the mutt, then me, then the mutt…bad.
Disgusting. Where is my family? Delly? Delly. I want Delly…go away, you fucker.
Muttfucker…me and the mutt, you and the mutt…evil…"

Peeta was mumbling by then and Gale fled the room. The nurse gave him the evil
eye, preparing a syringe, finally giving Peeta something to make him sleep.

Why they didn’t turn off the lights, Gale never knew.
===============================================================================


Did Peeta remember what had happened between him and Gale after the Hunger
Games, back in Twelve?

No words of it reached Katniss, however and when Peeta appeared in the
Cafeteria a few weeks later, under guard, shackles around his wrists he only
stared at Katniss and mentioned Gale as an afterthought. It was unbearable.
Gale didn’t know what to do, and was honestly afraid of going back to the
hospital room. Katniss all but abandoned Peeta after a while. Gale could see it
in her eyes, the thing keeping her alive wasn’t Peeta, it was the wish for
vengeance. Killing Snow, destroying the Capitol, Gale threw himself in sinister
plans and darker thoughts. Katniss and him seemed closer than ever before, but
also strangely distant. It was like she had opted out. Did she entertain
suicidal thoughts? He couldn’t quite think she would, as long as her family,
her Prim was here, she wouldn’t, would she?

Training was the only thing he still enjoyed. At night the nightmares came. He
knew he was abandoning Peeta, but the thought of talking to him gave him cold
shivers instead. No, he must forget Peeta Mellark. Forget that he exists,
forget what they had. No one should ever know. Whatever it was that they had it
was gone anyway. The Peeta Mellark he had known, had loved, was gone. Left only
a shell. Like that Annie Cresta who seemed mentally not quite there. How anyone
could marry under these circumstances he would never understand. He didn’t
quite like the strange pair of Annie Cresta and Finnick Odair. Or Johanna
Mason, another victor who made him uncomfortable with her cruel words and blunt
honesty.

Plans of invading the Capitol were getting more concrete.
===============================================================================


Gale leaves Alma Coin’s office the night before the allotted leaving, walking
down the long corridors when he spots the grey figure of a girl in front of his
family’s rooms, sitting on the floor.

Delly Cartwright.

What does she want?

"Hello," Delly says shyly, looking up. He looms over her, a giant.

"Hello," he answers, points to the door,"Wanna come inside?"

Delly shakes her head, makes her blond curls wiggle slightly, "No, no. That’s
not necessary. I don’t want to disturb anyone. I wonder…"

She pauses, looking down the corridor on both sides.

"I wanted to talk. I don’t know, if you remember me that well. I’m Delly. From
town, a classmate of Peeta and Katniss’."

"Yeah," he says, a little too quickly. "Wouldn’t forget a lovely girl like you.
I’m Gale."

"Of course," Delly giggles, as if it’s impossible not to know his name. Her
giggle is light and airy, makes Gale wonder how a girl who lost her family and
her home in a horrible inferno only weeks ago can giggle like this. 
He is used to Katniss’ sullen moods by now, and none of the girls he’d been
with so far were carefree. It feels like it's been decades since he last
flirted with a female. Delly is Twelve through and through. Sure she’s not
Seam, but she talks like home, different to the Thirteen people. He resists the
urge to push one golden lock behind her ear. It’s been too long. Kissing
Katniss a few times was a distraction, wasn’t enough. He shakes his head and
his eyes fall on Delly’s tits. They are full, that much he can see under the
grey overall. Bigger than any girl’s he’s ever been with. His cock twitches and
he smiles at her.

"Do you wanna go for a walk?" His voice is lower, deeper. His seduction voice.

"No," Delly answers, but smiles back. "I wanna, I mean, I need to talk to you.
I’m Peeta’s friend. It’s important that we talk."

Of course, Delly is not here to make out. He knows this, but his body has
different ideas. He wonders if he should ask her if she’s been with Peeta. And
if she has, if he can taste his boy on her lips. If she sucked Peeta’s cock and
if his seed is still there in her mouth, heavy and metallic, wonderfully
delicious to those who love him. But these are only his dirty little thoughts.
He doesn’t want to hurt this girl, the only one who is still looking after
Peeta. The only one who has not abandoned him like he and Katniss did.

"Do you know Mia Wolk?"

He didn’t expect that question. Of course, he knows that Mia has been saved and
lives here in Thirteen now, but he hadn’t spared her a thought since the last
time he saw her in Twelve. She just wasn’t on his radar.

Wait. Mia is the only one who knows about Peeta and his connection, maybe
connected the dots by now.

"Yeah," he answers.

"Mia visited Peeta in his room last night," Delly starts to sweat, the air in
the corridor dense. "Said she knew him from school, and other 'business' they
attended together. She is in our class, but I’ve never seen her and Peeta
interact before. So, I thought this was weird, but I couldn’t very well voice
my objection."

Delly is obviously a follower who trusts in the authorities. Gale wonders how
that must feel. His thoughts go back to Mia. If he would only have more time.
He would visit that Mia and make her remember that she should mind her own
business.

"When Mia came out she," Delly gulps, "was rude. She said a few mean things,
about Peeta, about kids from town. And she mentioned you. Said something about
the lines of, well…she hinted, that you know…. That you’re closer than
friends."

"Oh?" Gale says. Damn that Mia. Why did she say that?

"Yeah. So I went back in and Peeta was very confused. He asked me questions.
Questions I do not know the answers to. I don’t know what to tell him, Gale.
And to be honest, it makes me uncomfortable. I didn’t tell the Doctors about
this, yet. And I don’t know if I should."

"What did he say, Delly?" Gale says, fearing the worst, just wanting this to be
over, some part of himself still wondering if Peeta ever sucked those tits of
Delly’s.

He’s slowly going crazy.

"It was a bit confusing. He asked me if he’d been with Katniss. Like this, you
know," Delly blushes, making it obvious that she’s pretty virginal herself, and
all his dirty thoughts about her couldn’t be further from the truth, "Obviously
I couldn’t answer that. And I don’t want to. When I asked what exactly did he
remember, he said he thinks he did stuff with Katniss. But then he stopped and
looked around in confusion, saying that he thinks he’s been with Mia, too. And
that…"

"What, Delly?" The girl’s eyes are red, puffy making Gale realise that this is
hard on Delly, that she is suffering.

"I’m sorry, I mean this all sounded so weird, it’s probably the hijacking,
right? He said that he only wanted someone to love him," a tear runs down
Delly’s nose, "And that they had forced…I mean, in the Capitol they made him
listen to tapes of you and Katniss. "

"Tapes?" he gasps, eyes burning. 'He only wanted someone to love him'

"Audio recordings," Delly nods, looking scared now. Audio recordings of Gale
and Katniss? How is that even possible?

But then he remembers the Quarter Quell and Prim’s voice. It must’ve been too
easy. He even helped along, through his dirty talking in Peeta’s house. They
must’ve used his and Katniss’ voices.

"They’re not real," he mumbles, embarrassed that Delly thinks he could’ve had
sex with Katniss. He shouldn’t care about her opinion but some part of him
doesn’t want this girl to think him a selfish bastard, too.

"That’s not all," Delly says, "He began talking to himself, like he was two
people again. He sometimes does this. The doctors are still unsure why. This
must be fake, like you said - not real. Oh those Capitol people are horrible.
I’ll never understand why they did this. They made him believe that he’s been
with, well, you too."

Delly looks mortified, as if the mere thought of it was out of the realms of
reality. Maybe it is, for a town girl of District Twelve. A thought so
impossible, she can not even comprehend that this is a possibility.

"He kept talking on how he was used. Like Katniss and you were in on some
scheme to hurt him. It wasn’t pretty." Delly shakes her head. "I’m glad it’s
not true, this. I never believed it and told him so several times. I thought I
should warn you though, that he believes this to be true, especially since Mia
visited. She must’ve told him something… Do you think I should tell the
doctors? Or Mr. Heavensbee?"

"No, Delly," Gale shakes his head. "It’s not something they should know. I will
talk to Peeta, when I come back."

'If I come back', he thinks. He is under no illusion that he is going on a
mission that might just end with him in a coffin. He thanks Delly and goes to
bed in his quarter, where all family members reside in bunk beds. One last
night, with his loved ones.

He lies down on the scratchy mattress. What Delly told him, he can’t really
understand. Doesn’t understand the scope of it all. How that hijacking worked.
What Peeta believes is real. He just wants to talk to him, tell him the truth.
Make him see. The truth though, what is the truth? What is real? Was what they
did real? Why did they even do it at all? If he can’t even answer the questions
for himself how would he ever convince Peeta, that what they had was real? It’s
obvious that Peeta won’t believe a word he would say. He’s probably so damaged
that he won’t be able to think straight. Talking to himself, like he is two
people.

Maybe he should visit Peeta before they leave tomorrow. But where lies the
sense in that? Gale decides not to go, for entirely selfish reasons. Because it
would hurt too much, because the Peeta Mellark he knew is gone. Forever.
===============================================================================


When Peeta appears in the Capitol, walking into camp with a gun on his back,
Gale cannot believe his eyes. Are they crazy at the Headquarters? What does
Coin think she is doing? Sending a mentally damaged boy like Peeta into a war
zone, together with Katniss. It makes the mission harder, so much harder. He
only had to worry about Katniss before, now he can’t help himself, must also
look after Peeta. Strange thoughts of jealousy swirl through his mind. Katniss
is cold to Peeta, but he seems drawn to her, trying to connect with her. And -
forgetting Gale in the process. He wonders if Katniss is as indifferent about
Peeta as she pretends to be.

He offers to kill Peeta.

Not because he wants to do it, he could never. No, he wants to test Katniss to
see how she reacts. She disagrees, but he can see the truth in her eyes. She is
afraid. But still, there is a spark in her. Something that tells him that she
didn’t give up on Peeta. He has always suspected that Katniss likes Peeta more
than she let on. She is a woman who is not very emotionally open. Doesn’t show
her feelings, doesn’t wear her heart on her sleeves. Either way, this Katniss,
the Mockingjay, this girl really does love Peeta Mellark. Gale is not entirely
convinced that she knows it herself. The thought, though, doesn’t hurt as much
as before. A future with Katniss - everything he imagined they both could have
one day, it'll never happen. Hell, he probably won't even survive the next day.
So romance is the last thought on his mind, when they fight their way through
the Capitol streets, losing one member of the squad after another through
horrific pods, nightmarish mutts and traps that only convince him to kill as
many of these bastards as possible. There can't be any goodness in the Capitol.
They are all evil. Who in their right mind constructs these kind of death
traps? No one sane that much is for sure.

There are only five of them left. Five.

They find shelter in a shop in the inner city, are helped by a weird Capitol
woman called Tigris. Gale doesn't trust her, wants to get out of here as soon
as possible, but they have to rest. They have to eat and tend to their wounds.
The emotional, as the physical. Gale hates to see how Katniss and Peeta seem to
get closer again, but tries to subdue these emotions. It's neither the time nor
the place. Katniss falls asleep in between Tigris furs and he can't help but
stare at Peeta, who is cuffed to a pipe behind him.
What does he think now? His lips look dry, his eyes bloodshot. What happened
with Mitchell and even back in the sewers, when he didn't want to go on,
must've been torture for his hijacked mind. Now, that Katniss is sleeping it
might be his only chance to talk again, to gently probe Peeta and maybe, to say
a last goodbye? They are not going to survive this. That much is obvious.

"Do you want some water?" he asks, making Peeta look up at him, a lost look in
his tired eyes.

"Yeah," he says, gently.

He moves closer and puts the bottle against Peeta's lips, swallows as he
watches him drink eagerly, remembering kissing these lips and feels nothing but
sadness at the thought.

"Thanks for the water," Peeta says.

"No problem," Gale replies. "I wake up ten times a night anyway." That's not
entirely true. He doesn't wake, he just can't sleep. Peeta seems to ponder
that.

"To make sure Katniss is still here?" asks Peeta.

'No, to make sure you're still here and to watch you sleep, because that's the
only thing that is bringing some kind of peace to my mind', he thinks but
answers. "Something like that."

"She loves you, you know?" says Peeta. "She as good as told me after they
whipped you."

'And you?' Gale wants to scream, 'What about the things you told me after they
whipped me?'

"Don't believe it," Gale answers instead. "The way she kissed you in the
Quarter Quell...well, she never kissed me like that." And it's true. The only
one who kissed him like that, had been Peeta.

"It was just part of the show," Peeta tells him, but Gale can hear an edge of
doubt in his voice.

Gale doesn't want to talk about Katniss any longer. He wants to talk about
them, about their relationship. Peeta says something about Gale being like
Katniss' family, but he only listens half-heartedly. He disagrees about
Katniss, but lets him talk.

"I wonder how she'll make up her mind." Peeta says and Gale's heart breaks.
Without a warning, just like this.
It was Katniss all along. All along, all along.

Peeta Mellark is still in love with Katniss Everdeen.

He thinks that the Capitol made it all up, or he would have reacted in a
different way.

Gale suddenly feels cold, even down here in that stuffy basement, between all
that fur. Cold and hurt, and treated unfairly.

Wasn't he the one who loved Peeta? Who chose him?

Wasn't he the one who visited him at night? Who took care of Peeta, when no one
else gave a damn? While Katniss and her family enjoyed their live in the
Victor's Village? While the Mellarks were absent and Haymitch Abernathy drunk
in his house?
Who was the one who visited no matter how tired he was, no matter how much his
own family needed him?
Who was the one that cared?

And now, it is always Katniss. Katniss this and Katniss that. Who will she
choose and who will she love. For Peeta only that seems to be of importance.

"Oh, that I do know. Katniss will pick whoever she thinks she can't survive
without."  His words come out more harsh than intended, but he doesn't care.

And he knows very well who that is. Peeta Mellark.

He was blind and too stupid to see it, although the last weeks made it crystal
clear that Katniss Everdeen just isn't Katniss Everdeen without Peeta.

She does need Peeta to be happy. She doesn't need Gale.

And Peeta?

He does need Katniss. He doesn't need Gale.

Peeta believes that their time together is some weird unreal hallucination
created by the Capitol to befuddle his mind. Peeta doesn't remember or, most
likely, doesn't want to remember. There is only one person in this world left
that Peeta cares about, whose opinion of him is important and who he loves.

And that person is not Gale Hawthorne.

"Gale?" Peeta asks after a while, fingers flexing.

"I'm trying to sleep, Mellark," he huffs, turning away from the boy and his
wounded look. His eyes are burning and a small tear runs down his own face.
Stupid, all of this is stupid. He steels his heart. 'Don't bother', he thinks.
It's all for naught.

"There are some things, things I'm confused about, like they are not shiny. But
it's impossible - all of this is and with Katniss...."

"Figure them out on your own," Gale hisses, too hurt to care about the sharp
intake of breath from the left, not wanting to hold Peeta's hand when the
baker's son made every effort to connect with Katniss and left Gale in the
cold, as if he isn't important at all.

Peeta doesn't care.

So Gale Hawthorne decides that he's going to be the selfish one this time - and
also stop caring.
Chapter End Notes
     I hope this doesn't feel too rushed, but I hate to rewrite canon. I
     copied a bit of dialogue from canon in this chapter, so please
     forgive me for that. Thanks for supporting TLA, it means the world to
     me!
***** District 2 *****
Chapter Summary
     Gale receives an unexpected call after midnight.
Chapter Notes
     Prepare for a time jump, in this seventh chapter, ominously called
     'District 2'. I have no excuse.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Gale startles, when he sees the girl. Rubs his eyes. This can't be, this can't
be her. She turns around, blonde braid swinging and giggles, a youthful, sweet
sound, clear as a bell.

The girl walks closer to where he is sitting on a bench and only then does he
see, that her eyes are green, her nose is too long and her freckles too dark.
She turns, skips over the gravel and disappears down the little path, passes
the newly planted oak trees out of the park area he is checking today. He
doesn't know how long he's been staring after the girl when the little mobile
device in his jacket starts to vibrate.

It's been two years and he still didn't get used to these sudden intrusions.
They never even owned a telephone in District Twelve. Now, he is getting calls,
wherever he is, whenever. He takes the device out of his jacket and flips it
open.

"Hawthorne?" says an impatient male on the other end of the line, "Hawthorne?
Can you hear me?"

Gale opens his mouth to answer, but all that comes out is a croak, a pathetic
sob, a sound so unlike him, that the voice on the other end of the line says,
"Oh, I'm sorry. I must've dialed the wrong number. Excuse me." and hangs up.

Primrose Everdeen is dead.

And it is all his fault.
 
===============================================================================
 
 
He waits a few more minutes before he calls Sanders to let him know that the
park can be used for the festivities. Paylor has announced that she will make
an appearance as well, so the press will definitely be here to show Panem what
a beautiful place District 2 has become. There is a discussion about changing
the seat of government to District 2. Having it here would certainly be
convenient for Gale. He wouldn't have to commute to the Capitol every other
week. He and most people of the party agree that using the lavish Capitol
facilities is sending the wrong message to the citizens. On the other hand,
Panem has much more pressing problems. Building a new seat of government would
be hard to communicate. Some people, especially refugees in the Capitol are
nearly starving. It would be presumptuous to ignore that the Capitol does
exist, and still has many intact buildings that can and should be used.

Sighing, Gale checks his watch. It's not even lunch time and he is already
exhausted. Exhausted and sick of it all. The party wants him to be some sort of
poster boy. As a war veteran, close to Alma Coin, involved in the downfall of
the old and erection of the new government he is invited for interviews,
talkshows, whatever floats Plutarch or Paylor's boat. While all of this was
kind of okay during the first few months after Paylor's election, he feels
fatigue and anger, and usually refuses when they want him to be on TV these
days. The past he tried so hard to ignore, the past he didn't want to let in,
is slowly catching up with him. He's afraid. That he won't be able to do his
job if this continues. Seeing her, on every street corner. Hardly sleeping,
hearing her screams. The guilt he tried to suppress, he feels it more every
single day. And that guilt it has changed.

When Katniss asked him if the bomb was his, the look in her eyes made it clear
she would never ever be with him that way. The way he wanted. Because that was
all that he had going for him, the protection of Katniss' family. The pain was
real. But that pain in those early days wasn't the pain he is feeling now. It
has taken a year until he grasped the whole horrific thing he had done, even if
he never knew if Coin had really used his and Beetee's bombs. He had planned
this and killed innocent children and people alike. It wasn't about his
relationship with Katniss. It was about the destruction of a future for
countless individual children. One of them Primrose who would never grow up to
be a doctor, never grow up to be a scientist, never grow up to shape this
country or just live the life she would have liked to live. While Gale was
alive and got all these chances. He woke one night, drenched in sweat, almost
screaming when he realised that there was only one way to redempt. To make this
somehow better, without killing himself. And that was to prevent a repeat of
something horrid like this to happen. He worked even harder then, tried to make
himself irreplaceable to Paylor. Never again, he swore to himself, never again.

That didn't stop him from seeing Primrose Everdeen passing him by on street
corners, sitting in one of the little cafés or driving on the train every now
and then. That didn't stop him from lying in bed every few months, unable to
move, drenched in sweat, sobbing helplessly, work an impossibility.

And that didn't stop him from ignoring quite a dozen advances of women and even
some men who showed that they were definitely interested in being more than
just friends. He couldn't. Couldn't anymore. What was once part of his life,
something he thought he could never live without, almost disgusted him now. If
it wasn't for his work he would've become a social recluse. As it was he worked
all day, every day and only went to his apartment for a few hours of sleep
every night. Life became grim and cold. This was his redemption. And the worst
thing about it was that he knew, he was fooling himself. That what he was doing
here, was merely a distraction. A distraction that had nothing to do with the
death of Primrose Everdeen.
===============================================================================


His mother is nearing fifty. She doesn't know exactly how old she is. Somehow
her birth certificate got lost when she'd been a toddler, and as she was the
seventh child of her parents they never cared. This circumstance made her
partake in eight reapings instead of seven, because the peacekeepers didn't
believe her to be eighteen after her final reaping. This is a story she told
him shortly after his father had died. She took him into the bedroom and opened
the drawer.

"These are your siblings birth certificates, Gale." she told him, "If anything
happens to me, make sure you'll keep them safe."

Now she is standing in his kitchen and looks younger than she ever did in
District 12.

"I brought you oranges," she smiles at him, "Vick and Posy are absolutely crazy
about them. A new supermarket opened next to the orphanage. You wouldn't
believe the selection of fruit and vegetables they have. This is heaven
compared to market day in District 12."

Gale smiles back. His mother lives here in Two now, in a big house with another
family who she befriended in District 13 and is close to since then. Together
they opened an orphanage for children who lost their parents during the
rebellion. The orphanage is sponsored by the government, one of their pet
projects. His mother loves the work, loves to be there for the kids who all
adore her. It seems like she has found her calling in life and he is extremely
proud of her.

"You need your vitamins," she says and sits down at the kitchen table, peeling
an orange, "I'm worried about you."

"You know how it is, Ma," he says, "Working for the greater good."

The scent of the orange is intoxicating. "You must take care of yourself. You
look like your father did after a few years done the mines," she shakes her
head, "This can't be healthy, Gale. That your work is so exhausting that you
don't have time to live anymore."

"Who says I'm not living?" he asks curtly, stealing on of the orange wedges.

His mother sighs and looks around the kitchen, "Is there...anyone?", she asks
hesitantly.

"Anyone?" he asks, deliberately not getting the hint.

"A girl, I mean," she says and when he doesn't answer, adds "Or maybe, a boy?"

Gale nearly chokes on his orange wedge. "Ma," he groans.

"I'm just saying," she gives him a long look.

"That I shouldn't waste my youth? Or what?" Gale feels himself blushing. 'Or
maybe, a boy?' His Ma is almost scary.

"They are living together," she says, trying to catch his gaze, "You know, in
her old house in District 12. Katniss and Peeta Mellark."

Gale starts to sweat.

"I know." He didn't, but that's that. He doesn't want to talk about them.
Doesn't want to show his mother how much that information shocks him, affects
him. They are living together. In the same house. The same bed.

"Maybe," she starts again, "Maybe you should take a vacation. Go to her. Talk
to her. You still...I mean, it's been two years. Maybe Katniss has grown up and
she is able to..to understand. Let you go."

"Let me go?" he laughs, "Oh, Ma, believe me she let me go. Quite good."

"She might want to forgive. I think it would do you good, to talk. So that you
can move on."

Gale shakes his head. Hazelle doesn't know. Even that comment about 'a boy',
was simply guess work. And she thinks that he's still infatuated with Katniss.
Which he is, in a way.

"Don't we all want companionship? Don't we all need someone to love, who loves
us back? I know, baby, you think you don't deserve this after what happened.
But you do. I only want you to try and find happiness. It's what you fought
for, a better future, a happy future. You shouldn't be alone and lonely."

"I'm not lonely. I have you," he grumbles and Hazelle laughs.

"Oh, Gale. You've been independent since you were a little boy, but don't
believe that I didn't know what you were up to at night. Don't think I didn't
notice the girls loitering around our hut, looking for you. I know all about
that, I was young once. And I certainly didn't want to spend my precious time
with my mother or siblings when your father was anywhere near me."

"That doesn't mean that's all there is to life," Gale says, annoyed. He can't
very well tell his mother the real reason why he isn't interested in a
relationship.

"Work is then?" she asks, handing him the last orange wedge.

"Yeah," he answers, "Work is."

Hazelle looks sad, collecting orange zest in her hand.
"Okay," she says, "Okay." He knows she's not happy with his answers, and she
only wants what's best for him. She cannot understand, cannot know that what he
wants most in this world belongs to Katniss.

And that he would rather die than rob her of her most beloved treasure.

Again.
===============================================================================


A few nights later he stumbles back into the apartment, barely able to stand on
his feet anymore, exhaustion in his every bone. He almost misses the stupid
work in the mines. One didn't have to think too much, down there. It was almost
therapeutic in that darkness. He has to go on a trip to the Capitol tomorrow
and still needs to pack. It's after midnight when he searches for his duffle
bag under the bed. A shrill, annoying sound, makes him jump.  What is that?

He looks around and then he remembers the telephone in his kitchen. That phone
has never been used. He didn't even know it was connected to any net. All his
work contacts and his family call him on his mobile device. He wonders where
the heck the caller got his number from. He doesn't even know his own number
and he's barely here to answer the phone.

Curiosity makes him run to the kitchen and take the receiver, "Gale Hawthorne,"
he says and almost expects some cold call, someone who wants to sell something.

The caller immediately hangs up.

Is this some sort of joke? Calling in the middle of the night to hang up? What
was that? He stares at the receiver and then hangs up himself. He has no time
to waste with this nonsense. He needs to sleep.
===============================================================================


Gale forgets about the phone call until he is woken up by the shrill noise of
the telephone, three weeks later. One look at the alarm clock tells him all he
needs to know. It's a few minutes after midnight. He contemplates ignoring the
ringing, but the noise doesn't stop, so he goes into the kitchen and answers
the phone, sleepily, "Gale Hawthorne."

The caller hangs up and Gale stares at the receiver. Is he still asleep? This
is not funny. Who has this number and why are they doing this? Maybe someone
out there is looking for revenge? Maybe this is someone who hates Gale and
wants to torment him? He swears to himself, that he won't answer the phone the
next time it happens.

In the end he does. It happens more frequently, weekly. And then after three
days. At first he thought he might hear something at the end of the line, but
the person always hangs up after he states his name, so he can't hear any
breathing or background noise, things that could help to place the call.

He has a suspicion. But that is unthinkable. She wouldn't. Would she? She
might. Might be too afraid to say something. He is not sure, but this is the
reason why he always answers the phone. That if it's her, she knows he is here
and he is willing to talk. About anything.
===============================================================================


Another braided Primrose passes him by that night, sitting on a bench of a tram
station near his apartment. Smaller this one, maybe twelve. Same age as when
she had been reaped. Finding his way back he can't get the image out of his
head. Prim. So sweet and small. So innocent. Tears and snot run down his face
when he takes out his key to open the door and there is that ringing sound
again and he can't stand it.

Not tonight, no, not tonight. He kicks the door close behind him and
contemplates not answering. Then he suddenly wants to know. No, he needs to
know. If it is really her. Or some ghost, a vengeful spirit that left Prim's
soul to torment him from the nether world.

He takes the receiver and almost sobs into the phone, "Katniss?"

He expects the caller to hang up. They don't. There is silence, and then
someone breathes out, gently. Another moment of his life in limbo.
It's questionable, if he is really here. If these calls really happen, or if
they just happen in his head.

"Gale," a soft female voice says, a voice he once knew, of a girl he once loved
and still does and oh, how he missed that voice how his heart and soul craved
hearing her call his name again. More beads of salty water roll down his
cheeks, when she continues with a quiet "Hello."

"Hello," he sobs and it is like a knot of unpleasant emotions unfurls somewhere
deep inside his gut.

It is her. It is really her. For a while he keeps crying silently, not sure if
he should put it down, if he should speak, or if he should let her talk. When
there are no tears left, and Katniss hasn't said a thing he decides that he
should talk.

"Was it you?" he asks, "Who called me? All these times?"

"Yeah," she answers, "Yeah. That was me."

"Where did you get my number from?"

"It's in the telephone book. The one that was published last year, with numbers
from all the Districts."

"Oh," he manages. There is a telephone directory with his number? He never
knew. So whoever wants to, could call him? But nobody did. Nobody did, but
Katniss. He's not sure how to proceed. How to continue the conversation.
Katniss is silent. Doesn't say a thing.

"How are you?" he finally asks, not able to stand the silence.

"I get by," Katniss says neutrally. She is certainly not bent on making this
conversation an easy one. Determined to give short answers. Why did she call?
And why now, after two long years? Is she willing to talk? Does she need to
talk?

"The woods?" he asks, desperate for any topic now, any topic, so she won't hang
up. The woods. Their woods. Their connection, their territory.

"Still there," Katniss says and he imagines she is gnawing on her lip.

"I'm sorry," he suddenly bursts out, "I'm so sorry. I had a lot of time to
think about the past. About Prim. When Beetee and I were in District 13..."

"Gale," Katniss cuts in, and her voice is hard like steel, "Don't get the wrong
idea. I don't want to talk about this. I'm not calling because...of her. Don't
mention her name, again."

"No," he whispers, taken aback. "Sorry," he mumbles, because that's the only
word he can really say to her, again, again and again.

Why does she call then? He is afraid, afraid to ask, tears threatening to spill
once more.

Another long silence stretches between them.

"Do you.." she starts, and then stops, contemplating, hesitating, "Are you very
busy? With work?"

How to answer that? He is busy, extremely. He has a feeling, however, that this
not the answer that Katniss wants.

"It's not so bad," he answers.

"Do you.." she starts again, and then is silent for so long, Gale thinks she
might have dropped the receiver, "Are you seeing someone?"

"What?" he gasps. What is that question? First his mother and now, Katniss? She
certainly doesn't want to know this. Why does she wants to know this? Her voice
is clippish, cool. There is no forgiveness, no gentleness, no letting go. His
mother was wrong. So what is it to Katniss, if he's with anyone? She doesn't
want to reconcile. And she is with....

"Your mother says you're not, but if you are tell me now," Katniss says curtly.
Gale can't believe his ears. Katniss talked to his mother about him. About his
romantic relationships. He hasn't heard from Katniss in two years and now she's
inquiring after that? When it is obvious that she'd rather not talk to him at
all?

"Why?" he inquires. He's not sure if he has a right to question Katniss, but he
wants to know what's going on.

"Because if you're seeing someone, I will hang up and you'll never hear from me
again," Katniss says nonchalantly, "Be honest, please."

Never hear from her again? No. No, he can't let that happen.

"I'm free," Gale presses out, against his will,"My mother is right. There is no
one."
What he doesn't tell her is that she's the last person he has kissed. That he
hasn't touched anyone, but himself, in more than two years. That Katniss
cracked lips on his were the last time he had felt a loved one close to him.

"Okay," breathes Katniss, "Do you have any vacation left?"

He never took a day of vacation. He isn't positive there is such a thing as
vacation, in his line of work. It never occurred to him to ask, and he doesn't
feel any desire to do so.

"Is that an invitation?" he murmurs, not sure if he ever wants to go back home
again. Where the two of them live in domestic harmony.

"More of a request," Katniss exhales, "There are some things I need to discuss.
Face to face. I'd like you to come as soon as you can. I understand that you're
busy, but if you find the time please let me know. Can you do that?"

"I guess... Tell me your number, so I can get back to you."

"No," she brushes him off, "I'll call again. Let's say in a week. Same time.
Okay?"

Somehow he is annoyed at this. He has ways of getting her number, she must know
that. Why does she not want him to call?

"It's a bit late, you know," he says, "After midnight. I need to sleep, too."

"You're always picking up the phone, though," she retorts, "There is no other
way."

Gale suspects he knows, why she calls after midnight. Why she asks all these
weird questions. Why she doesn't want to give him her number.

"Peeta doesn't know about this, right?" he presses out. "You're keeping secrets
from him."

He's not sure how to feel about this, but then Katniss answers in such an
eerie, icy way that he feels a cold shudder, even a thousand miles away.

"I'm not the only one who's keeping secrets. You're right, Peeta doesn't know
about this. If you don't want to come and listen to what I have to say, be my
guest. We can manage."

'We can manage'. What is that supposed to mean?

"What did Peeta tell..." he starts, but she immediately cuts him off.

"Same time next week. Goodbye Gale," and hangs up, while he stares at the
receiver.

Keeping secrets? Does she know about Peeta and him and is about to confront
him? How did she find out? Did Peeta tell Katniss? Or does he still believe
that it all had been fake as Gale never told him otherwise? Gale resists the
urge to scream. How, when and why? Katniss so cold, preventing him from calling
back. It seems everything has to be on her terms this time. He wants to
protest, but deep down knows he has no right. He will ask for vacation. He will
go to District 12. He will do whatever she asks of him. No matter what that is.
===============================================================================

After Katniss shot President Coin, everything became chaotic. They took her,
took her away to some cell and all that remained was confusion. Gale had been
shocked, but after the bombs not that surprised. He knew that Katniss blamed
him, but most of all suspected that Alma Coin was not exactly the good
president, she pretended to be. He had been too caught up in the realisation
that he had helped kill a dozen of District 13 residents, a dozen of kind-
hearted people from District 12, people whom he just had saved - a few months
earlier. He  went to Beetee to talk about what they did and how all of this
wasn't what they wanted. It helped, that he wasn't alone.

The decision in Tigris' basement that he wouldn't care about Peeta remained. To
stop caring was easier said and done though, especially since Peeta started to
inquire about him. At least that was what he heard. Dr. Aurelius, the doctor of
Katniss and Peeta had called him several times, asking him to meet Peeta.

He went out of his way to avoid the boy, planned to leave the Capitol for
District 2 before the trial was over. The day before he left the Capitol, he
finally realised how cowardly he had acted. Avoiding and ignoring Peeta was
unfair and cruel. He knew very well why he did it, though. And that decision
was set in stone, no matter how often Peeta tried to contact him.

Nevertheless he called the hospital where Peeta stayed and talked briefly to
Dr. Aurelius.

"I think," the Doctor had said, "It would be helpful if you two have a
conversation. Peeta has made great progress in these last weeks. He is able to
separate real from not real, he has most of his memories sorted out. Now he
needs to find closure, to be able to move forward."

Closure, to be able to move forward? It seemed like the Doctor was hinting that
Peeta needed closure on his relationship with Gale. That it had been some
little affair that Peeta should forget, the quicker the better. And that Gale
should stop standing in the way of his rehabilitation, his true goal, his true
love. And who was Peeta's true love? Katniss Everdeen. At least this Doctor
seemed to think so, and since he had information into Peeta's mindset, Gale
hadn't he couldn't well protest. He would've loved to shout at the Doctor, tell
him that the star-crossed lovers were fake, that he should stop pretending they
weren't, that these Capitol people and even he, that doctor, got it all wrong.
They all saw Peeta and Katniss as the endgame. Gale Hawthorne was just a
footnote in the epic love story of Katniss and Peeta and he should disappear
accordingly, after all had been said and done.

Gale only answered, "Sure." Ended the call. He never went to the Hospital and
left the Capitol, without looking back, disappearing, as had been expected.

He didn't regret it. As time went by, he thought that maybe Peeta missed him,
would try to contact him. Peeta never did. And that was that. His mother told
him news about their home District as she was in contact with a few relatives
who had moved back. Katniss was banished to District 12 and lived in the
Victor's Village. Some time later Peeta returned, and they were often seen
together, or so his mother said.

He had made a decision to not pursue Peeta after Prim's death. Seeing Katniss
and Peeta together after the hijacking only made this resolve stronger. He knew
that Katniss loved Peeta. And he knew that Peeta loved Katniss. He would never
come between them. He wouldn't. What he didn't expect was the feelings, he
still harboured. What he didn't anticipate were those feelings that never went
away. Hurts that didn't heal, urges that didn't stop. That his fantasies, his
lust, his desires were still connected to Peeta. That the thought of Peeta
Mellark and him, kissing, licking, sucking, pleasing each other, didn't
disappear. And that he couldn't for some strange reason enter a new
relationship with someone that wasn't Peeta. It wasn't what he wanted. Not even
hooking up, having some short term fling was doable. The thought alone left him
frustrated, so he never tried.

Gale Hawthorne was no fool. He would never be with Peeta again. He would never
look into these blue eyes, would never feel that sweet touch, or listen to
Peeta's soft moans, would never feel the love of his lil'one again. The person
who deserved Peeta simply wasn't him, it was Katniss. Katniss who had lost it
all. The real reason why he hadn't reached out, hadn't talked to Peeta in the
Hospital was that he had been afraid that Peeta did remember. That Peeta would
want more, that the possibility of a relationship was not just wishful
thinking. It would have made Gale happy. He would've moved to Two with his boy,
away from that horrid District 12,  help him find a job. They could've been
something. Lovers.

As it was, Gale didn't deserve Peeta's love. He didn't deserve a relationship
with Peeta. Katniss did. She simply needed it more than him. He was still
jealous. Of her, of him. He knew they were together, probably sharing all that,
all that he had promised Peeta they would. Sleeping together, loving each
other, healing each other, growing together. Katniss was the one who woke up to
Peeta next to her, Katniss was the one who would get fruit cake and cinnamon
rolls, Katniss was the one who feels him close and listens to his happy
laughter and who would look into his shining eyes.

And that was okay. It tore him apart at night, when he wasn't rationalising it
in his mind. That his heart broke over and over, and no matter how many months
passed, how many nights had come and gone he never stopped loving, missing and
needing Peeta. Never stopped touching himself, caught in past memories, in
forlorn hours of love that only had lasted a few months, years ago.
===============================================================================


Vacation was granted without protest. Two weeks in early spring. They offered
more, but he declined. He didn't know what Katniss wanted, and if she only
wanted to talk for two hours he certainly didn't plan to stay in District 12
longer than that. He contemplated calling one of his uncles, to ask if he could
stay at their house, but then thought better of it. He didn't want to visit
family during his days in Twelve. He'd rather nobody even knew he was coming.
So, he booked a hotel room at the station Hotel and left it at that. He could
always cancel the room.

Katniss had been her usual dismissive self when she'd called a week later, like
promised. He didn't dare to ask her, what this was all about. Why she needed to
see him face to face. Why she couldn't tell him on the phone. And why Peeta
wasn't involved in the talk. When Gale boarded the train to the distant home,
he was more than nervous and needed to breathe deeply to calm himself, flopping
down on the small bed in his compartment. Staring at the ceiling as the train
began to move his thoughts started to wander. It was more than possible that
this trip would be far from pleasant. That Katniss would shower him with
insults, that she would shout a tirade of curse words his way. Was he excited
to see her ? No, he wasn't. His stomach was in knots, thinking of their
confrontation. How would she look, how would she act around him? Would they
even be able to talk normally? Was that possible after all that had happened?

He didn't dare to hope that he would be able to get a glimpse of Peeta. Peeta
didn't know he was coming, Katniss made that clear.

Even if he wanted to see him, that would only be from afar, without Peeta
knowing he was there. He tried to not think these thoughts, because he didn't
want to be disappointed. If he ended up not seeing his lil'one, who really
wasn't his anymore, that would hurt. He couldn't help but wish to see him,
while at the same time felt afraid of reuniting. How would Peeta react after
all this time? What would he say? Would they embrace? Would Peeta allow that?
Fall into his arms, whisper 'Gale' and give him that closeness, that Gale so
desperately craved, after all?

A little spark of joyful anticipation remains in Gale's heart, despite his
every effort to quench the flame.

A small flicker of hope.
Chapter End Notes
     Brr..Katniss seems cold. What does she want after all these years?
     Who is keeping secrets?
***** District 12 *****
Chapter Summary
     Gale and Katniss go hunting.
Chapter Notes
     Hello dear readers. I'm in a creative slump these days, have not
     updated for some time. Wrote this before the slump swallowed me
     whole, and decided to post it to get it out of the way. I hope I can
     sweeten your day with this, maybe? Please, enjoy this eighth chapter,
     District 12. Yeah, horribly creative, I know ;).
See the end of the chapter for more notes
There is one thing that the teacher in geography class used to say. Mr. Lofler
was his name and Gale remembers the way everybody laughed at his weird, thick
glasses, and made fun of him behind his back. Mr. Lofler had been a Capitol
loyalist - presumably. In hindsight that seems clear, but when Gale was younger
it was just the way that every teacher at school talked like, and it was
normal. Mr. Lofler went on and on about how proud they should all be to come
from a District like Twelve, where such an important industry was providing the
Capitol with the resources it needed to flourish. That, if any of them were to
be reaped, they should stand tall and be thankful to have been born in District
12.

"Home, dear children," Mr. Lofler said, in his pompous, theatrical manner,
"Home is where the heart is. Never forget that."

It was the most ridiculous thing as no one ever left District 12. They were
prisoners here. The only way to get out was being send to die in the Capitol.
They would never know any other places so Twelve would always be home, no
matter where the heart, or whatever that meant, was. Even Mr. Lofler had not
left the District. All the teachers were taught by the headmaster. Who himself
got all the material to teach from the Capitol. It was all ridiculous. Back
then it did seem normal and while they all laughed at the weird teacher, they
still respected him and believed his words to be true. Only in the eyes of his
parents did Gale sometimes see another truth, when he told them about his day
at school. They knew better to talk in front of their children about politics
or the Capitol, but he remembers the strange looks and weird tension whenever
the topic came up.

When the train slows down and Gale looks out into the greyness of the woods,
sees the ruins of the destroyed mining facility pass him by, the hill in the
Seam, the remains of the fence,  and slowly the first houses of the place he
had been born in, somehow the words of Mr. Lofler come back to him.

No matter how much change District 12 has seen in the last three years, it is
the place where Gale Hawthorne grew up.

The woods, the Seam, the mines, the slag heap, town, the Victor's Village. All
of this is Twelve. And against his will his eyes get misty. He hasn't been here
for years. Still a soothing feeling overcomes him. Within the changes, it still
remains familiar.
===============================================================================


It's a misty morning and there is a slight sizzling of microscopical drops of
rain in the air, when the train drives into the station. Twelve is the last
stop. New tracks are to go as far as District 13, but these plans were only
made recently so it will take some years to drill tunnels, axe down the fauna,
in short kill all the nature for this big endeavour. District 13 is so far
away, that Hovercrafts are the preferred form of transportation. Since the
rebellion, though, many more people travel between the Districts as now they
are free to do so. Modern trains are being built and new tracks are being led.
Gale takes his bag, packed hours before the train pulled in the station, climbs
out of the train into the rainy world of his former home.

The platform and the station are new. It smells of timber and paint, in this
new District Twelve and Gale can count himself lucky that he is one of the
taller people in the thick of newcomers who keep buzzing around, greeting and
meeting the locals. There is an area with lockboxes at the end of the platform,
and while Gale booked himself a room in the station hotel, he'd rather get his
meeting with Katniss out of the way before he makes himself at home here.
Putting his bag inside he is fumbling with the key when the pressure of a hand
on his shoulder makes him startle around.

Katniss stands in front of him. She's smaller than he remembers. Smaller,
paler, but also much more woman than girl. Her eyes are shimmering, like the
silver of a fish in their lake in summer. Her hair is braided and she wears her
father's hunting jacket, her bow and a quiver filled with arrows on her back.

She's simply - beautiful.

Warmth floods every fibre of Gale's being. Katniss mouth twitches, her eyes are
damp. Might be because of the moisture in the air.

"Catnip," he whispers, reaching out, wanting contact so badly, wanting to feel
her, touch her. And Katniss, seems to have a fight with herself, fighting to
stay cool, calm, collected or whatever she must feel now. She doesn't succeed
and a small sob leaves her, makes her bite on her lip, like she committed a
crime.

"Gale," she whispers back, all trembling, reaches out and then, like a quick
squirrel, she is suddenly in his arms, pressing herself closer, mumbling "You
came" into his arms.

"Yeah," he says, swallowing hard, beyond moved that she initiated contact,
hugging her back gently, cautiously, almost limp without pressure.

"Sorry," he says against his will. "I'm so sorry."

He didn't want to say that. Didn't want this to be the first thing that comes
out of his mouth but it does, and now he can't change it. After a while Katniss
lets go and looks up at him, searching for something in his eyes, something he
seemingly cannot give so she shakes her head and takes a step back.

"Let's go hunting," she says, simply,  like the last few years didn't happen,
and he nods, following her lead out of the station down the road and over the
tracks, through the pillars of the fence and into their woods.
===============================================================================


They are silent, don't say a word for minutes, hours. She guides him to snares,
hands him a knife and then they hunt. It's spring, the woods brimming with life
and energy. Despite the mist they meet an abundance of animals and Katniss
shoots a pheasant which Gale finds in a clearing minutes later. He shouts for
her, the first word he said in a while, her name, and starts to pluck the
pheasant before she comes running. This clearing, he remembers this one. He
passed it shortly before his whipping, after he had that fight with Peeta.
Groaning to himself he continues to pluck, the manual work reminding him of a
simpler life.

The ground is wet but Katniss pays that no mind as she gracefully sits down on
the mossy floor next to him.

"What do you think?" she says, in that sweet melodic way he missed so dearly,
"About the District?"

"Looks good to me. At least I think so, I mean I haven't seen much more than
the station and a few new houses. From the train it almost looked like
before.The mines are still there."

"Yeah," Katniss answers, "They are thinking of filling the old mine shafts and
tunnels with earth and concrete. Closing the whole area. Making sure that our
fathers never come out again."

He looks up at her, shocked. Their fathers? Katniss is not looking at him, but
slowly turns her head in his direction. "They contemplate flooring the slag
heap, would you believe it?"

"Ah...is that so?" he mumbles, turning his attention back to the pheasant.

The slag heap. What does Katniss really know about that place? What happened
there, night after night...and what happened there that one night in winter,
after the 74th Hunger Games.

"I'm thinking of my father a lot these days. Crazy, considering what happened
to all of us after he died. When I listen to all that talk of reconstruction,
these thoughts hit me like a jackhammer. What would my father think, what would
my father say if he were alive today? I don't know. But when I think back to
these days and...well, you and me Gale, we were so similar. You became a father
to a family of five. I only had to look after two. I guess, what I'm trying to
say is...is that while I never felt that extreme hate you did, I understand it.
I understand, that everyone grieves in different ways and that your actions,
were born out of desperation rather than just hate. You never had any guidance,
only thought of survival. Now that I'm older, I understand."

Gale gapes at Katniss who looks at him now, eyes shimmering. Her tone isn't as
cold as it was a few weeks ago, when she first called. It's not warm either.

"You were young," she continues, "We all were. Too young to understand. Still.
I think that deep in my heart, no matter what, I will always hate you...a
bit.... for what happened. I know rationally, that it's not your fault in the
way that you went out there and murdered her with your own hands. But you
played a part, and that can never be undone."

"No," Gale says, trembling, the pheasant sliding on the floor beneath him,
while he tries to hold in the sobs. "Catnip.."

"To be honest, I'm confused. When I first saw you this morning, I thought I
might felt like I wanted to turn around again. Or hit you. Or scream at you. I
don't know. But when I saw you standing there, I felt something I didn't
expect. And I'm still feeling that now. I'm happy. To have you back. I missed
you. Maybe it's nostalgia. Maybe it's the old you that I craved for. Or maybe
it is just you. Gale Hawthorne. I don't know."

Katniss averts her eyes and he can't look at her either. Both of them look
wistfully at the treeline bordering the clearing.

"I haven't felt this way in a long time, Gale. Happy, carefree, like I belong.
With you this feeling is suddenly there, and it confuses me. Because...this
isn't the reason why I called you here. I didn't expect this."

"Oh," he mumbles. He is happy that she is happy. He can feel it too. They are a
good team. Always have been. It's so easy with her.

"What do you think?" she repeats her question from earlier, and then clears her
throat. "What do you think about owing?"

"Owing?" he repeats. "Like a debt?"

"Yeah," she agrees, "But not money. Do you believe that you might...how can I
say this, I mean do you owe me something?"

He doesn't know how to answer that, so he just shrugs. Where is she going with
this?

"Because I think so. I believe you owe me. I wanted you to come here, because I
need something from you. A favor, if you like. Of course, you're free to say
no. But you should think deep about this and if you want to help...it's
something that only you can do."

That sounds like blackmail to Gale. He is too afraid to tell her what he
thinks. He is free to say no, she said so. And why does he owe Katniss? Because
of Prim? Or is there another reason?

"What is it?" he presses out. "Just say it."

Katniss is still staring ahead, exhales in and out, deeply, slowly.

"Calling you was tough. Was it the right decision? Is it selfish? I've been
afraid, I couldn't even say a word when you answered the phone. When I readied
the guest room this morning I...almost puked. I still don't know, if I'm making
a terrible mistake..."

If she readied the guest room she must want him to stay with her. With them.
His heart flutters happily, when she looks up and turns around, taking one
feathery hand of his in hers.

"We need help," she says, hand ice-cold.

"You and...." he begins and when Katniss takes her hands away he misses that
coldness immediately.

"Peeta," she says, "I asked you before. Didn't I? Before the Quarter Quell. To
help us train, to make us stronger. This is similar. And different. You
probably won't be as eager to say yes."

"What is it?" he pleads, hardly able to stand this any longer.

"He is...I mean, we are not as stable, as we should be. Peeta came back from
the Capitol and was better. Everyday it seemed to get easier. He got better. He
helped me. We grew closer and...well..."

Katniss cheeks are red, she is biting her lip harshly. He is afraid she is
hurting herself, when a small drop of blood appears beneath her front tooth.

"We tried. Tried to get closer. He says it's all he ever wanted. All he ever
dreamed of. We were both good. But then, one evening..." she talks fast,
atypically, "It was perfect. Romantic. I wanted. It. Him. Needed it, and that
evening I was ready, and then.... Then he got a little carried away. It was no
big deal, he went out of the room to calm down, I made him tea and we talked. I
gave him time, a few days, a week. When I told him that we should try again, he
said he couldn't. Wouldn't. I don't know...."

Gale swallows, sweats even in the rainy weather.

"You talking about sex, that it?"

Her eyes are almost crazy when she meets his.

"He said that I could not understand. That he changed. I don't know what they
did to him, in the Capitol. What he lived through in this hell. And he won't
tell me. He is a big guy, strong, certainly stronger than me, everyone can see.
He is afraid that he'll hurt me badly, that once he starts he won't be able to
stop. He doesn't listen when I say that I can look after myself. He refuses to
try again. We're...kissing. With clothes on. Nothing else works, since he does
not want to be physically restrained, you see. Says that is too similar to
shackles and flashbacks and stuff. That he can't. We can't. Ever be close. And
it's been that way for a while."

Katniss cheeks are burning brightly. She made him speechless. This talk is so
far away from everything he thought he knew about who Katniss Everdeen was.
She's talking about sex. About Peeta. It's weird. Different.

"So," he begins after it becomes clear she has nothing more to say, "Where..I
mean, what exactly do you want me to do here?" He swallows hard. Still not
understanding what his role in this is.

Katniss looks him straight in the eye, making him gasp. His mouth is dry and he
is weirdly aware of it - not knowing what face he should be making.

"I love Peeta," she says, loud and clear, "I love him so much, Gale. He is my
all. My everything. He should be happy. I hate to see him like this. You must
know that I'm not doing this because of me. Me - I could live without it. But
Peeta is not...happy. He needs more. And so I decided to take action. I can
only see it happening in a certain...way, I guess. I thought long and hard. I
mean, I thought of many potential...people. Even made a list. There is only one
conclusion. In the end, it was clear that it could only be you."

"Damn you, Katniss," Gale growls, "Spit it out. What do you want me to do?"

Katniss jumps up and turns towards the direction of town, her back to him,
afraid to look at him, perhaps?

"I want you to... be with us. When we do it. So that Peeta feels safe, doesn't
have to worry. If he shows signs of an episode...you can interfere, if he's
losing it. Physically hold him back from hurting me. From doing the one thing
he is so afraid of."

She turns around again, meeting his shocked face.

"Will you help?" she asks, voice cold again, "Don't forget. You owe me."

The slight arousal and happiness he felt after Katniss proposal, is replaced by
anger.

It's cold. She is cold. Without passion or empathy. Talks like this is a
mathematical problem, she is facing this entirely void of emotion. One plus one
equals...what? Three?

He killed her sister.

So he owes her.

Where is Peeta's part in all of this? His face falls, when he looks into
Katniss grey eyes. She is forcing herself to invite him into their bedroom.
Even made a list of 'other' people before she even considered him. And who was
on that list anyway? Haymitch "fucking" Abernathy? The thought is so
disgusting, he doesn't even dare to ask.

"If I say yes, how exactly did you imagine this will run down?" he asks, voice
equally as cold.

Katniss begins to shudder and turns away from him again, "Obviously I'm not
comfortable with you being involved with me. I don't want that. So, I thought
you would sit on our armchair and...well...watch..."

Watch them having sex. He had even dreamed about this. Oh, how many times had
he imagined that.

"If Peeta has an episode you can intervene," she states, turning back.

"That means, you're okay with me watching you? Naked, having sex?" he meets her
hesitant gaze, "Don't look at me like this Katniss. I want us to be completely
clear and honest about the things you actually mean here. Vague hints are not
the way to go."

"It's far from ideal," she continues, "I am aware of that. Can't you see how
hard this is for me? To ask this from you? We are going to have sex, and
yeah...I'm okay with you seeing me naked. But you stay on that armchair.
Clothed. And that's it."

He shakes his head. She is unbelievable.

"My feelings in all of this aside," he begins, still baffled that Katniss is
oblivious to the fact that he's a human too, with human reactions, "You called
me here. Behind Peeta's back, to negotiate me watching over you two. Have you
ever considered that he might not be keen on the idea?"

This is it, the heart of it, the core. Did Peeta tell Katniss?

"Don't you worry about that," she says quickly, "I will talk to him and he will
agree. I know."

"How?" he asks, and finally wants to hear the truth, "Why would he be okay with
me being there?"

Why indeed. Katniss stays silent for a while and then bursts out.

"Because he's attracted to you, that's why," she groans, blushing heavily. He
can't muster any reaction. The way she says it, though...it doesn't sound like
she knows.

"Don't be mad at Peeta," Katniss says quickly, "He hides it. He is trying hard
to hide that he... I mean, they did horrible things to him in the Capitol,
experiments on his brain. He can't help it."

He stares at her, trying to connect her words with the reality, when all that
comes out is a jumbled mess. Her imagination must've run wild in these last
years.

"He's keeping it from me," she continues, "That he has these thoughts. Peeta
talks in his sleep and one time, I caught him...I mean, we had seen you on TV
that day...I'm not sure...he doesn't think I can understand. He thinks I'm not
able to understand this attraction. When it's not like this. I do understand. I
do...."

She looks at him, trying to gauge his reaction.

"You don't look too surprised," she whispers, "Did...did something happen
between you and Peeta? In Thirteen?"

"You haven't talked to him about this?" he asks, biting his lips, thinking back
to the day Peeta and he decided to tell Katniss about them before the
announcement of the Quarter Quell. Peeta had been so determined. He had this
plan. They nearly did. He isn't sure what he expected Peeta to do during these
two years. He didn't seem the type to keep secrets.

"Stop, Gale, stop it," says Katniss, still blushing. "I'm so tired of guessing.
Tell me if you want to or not. And then I'll talk to Peeta."

"No," he says, gentler this time. Katniss isn't acting out of malice, out to
hurt him, being intentionally unkind is not what she is.

She is acting out of love. Love for Peeta. Gale lifts his head, eyes finding
the sky. Breathing in and out deeply. He doesn't want to overthink this.
Katniss is desperate. Peeta might have his own reasons for not telling her, but
Peeta isn't here.

"Catnip," he begins, clears his throat and then says, "Katniss."

She is quiet, anticipating, waiting. Silent, like the hunter waiting for a
rabbit to make his appearance, somewhere in the shadows.

"There is something I have to tell you," he says, "Something I...or should I
say, we should've told you a long time ago. I have no idea, why he didn't.
Maybe he doesn't remember, maybe he is ashamed. I don't know. I haven't talked
to Peeta since that night in Tigris' basement."

His chest starts to ache, and his heart, too.

"You know we talked about me going to the slag heap before, right?"

Katniss is pale around her nose, sensing that this is important, maybe.

"You're correct. Something happened between Peeta and me. But not in Thirteen.
It started way earlier. In the winter after your games, I ran into Peeta and
Mia Wolk. At the slag heap."

Katniss comes closer, mouth open. Looks young, like when she arrived in the
woods. After school, so many summers ago.

"Mia Wolk? From our class?"

"Yeah," he answers. "Looking back, I don't know what came over me. Nothing
happened between them, I interrupted when I realized what was happening. Who he
was. There was jealousy and I felt betrayed by his actions. It's hard for me to
pinpoint why seeing him affected me that time, that night. Anyway I stopped
them. Told her to get lost. And then...I told him, well, I tried..I don't
remember exactly what I told him. But I kind of, see, we ended up kissing.
Somehow."

He looks up at her, but she just stands in the clearing, mouth open, eyes
formed into slits. Gale feels like a naughty child. Caught doing something he
always knew he shouldn't do, but kept doing it regardless.

"After that we met at the slag heap for a while. Then later we went to his
house. It ended when you two went away, to the Quell."

It's obvious that this is not all. How much is he ready to tell? How much of
this should come from Peeta?

"What ended?" she says, voice dead, "You and Peeta...what ended, Gale? Kissing?
That it? That's why he moans your name in his sleep? Just a few little kisses?
That's what you're telling me?"

"We made out," he says, "No...intercourse. Peeta didn't want that. He wanted
his first time to be with you. That's what he told me."

"Are you kidding me?" Katniss stares, mouth open, like a fish, obviously too
shocked to be upset. It would look almost comical, if Gale wasn't feeling so
guilty. He is in no position to tease.

In a far corner of his mind, something is celebrating. Cheering the fact that
Peeta moans his name in his sleep. Has not forgotten.

"No," he says, calm, trying to sound soothing, "I was pushing him. It was
really all my fault, Katniss. I was the older one, the more experienced one. I
pushed Peeta into something...made him believe that he needed guidance..."

He wants to defend himself, and while knowing that these words sound pathetic,
he can't help but press them out anyway.

"He would've slept with Mia, if I hadn't stopped him," he says, with a bit of
repulsion towards himself.

It sounds false. Like he is expecting a thank you from Katniss. A thank you for
getting him away from Mia and into his arms.

"The night before the Quell announcement, we had decided we must tell you," he
continues, "But then..."

"President Snow announced we were to go back into the arena," Katniss
concludes, shaking her head. He is watching her. Feeling light. It's like a
weight has been lifted from his shoulder.

"Now, you see why me being in your bedroom is not as simple," he says.

"Wait a moment, here. This is not done. I mean, it explains a lot of things I
have wondered about. And others remain...this..what you did. It doesn't make
sense. Why did you care if Peeta slept with Mia? Why even bother?"

He shrugs.

"I guess, I was attracted to Peeta. Some part of me wanted him. Wanted to claim
him as mine. I felt betrayed. Like I was you, that night. Decided that Peeta
shouldn't be with any girl, but you."

"That's ridiculous," she snorts, "Ridiculous."

"It really does sound ridiculous," he simply responds, "Still. This is what
happened."

Her eyes are back to slits.

"And then, when you...is that why you went to the Capitol? To get him back?"

"I don't think so," he says, "Maybe."

"You're unbelievable," she whispers, and then straightens up.

"What was Peeta to you, Gale?" Her voice quivers. "You say you were pushing
him. Why would you do that? Why would you use him like that?"

He doesn't answer. Should he tell Katniss that there was love between him and
Peeta? That this wasn't just some fun thing two teenagers did in the heat of
the moment? How would she react to that?

"And if...if there was more between the two of you, why didn't you help him?
Sought him out and supported him? Why did you have to abandon him, too?" she
groans and Gale realizes in with a strange clarity, an unknown focused
sharpness, that he loves this girl, with all that is left of his heart. She has
changed, and still she's astounding. This unconditional love Katniss has for
Peeta proves that retreating had been for the best.

Katniss shows maturity that he lacks. Anger, Pain, Bitterness, all the things
he imagined she would show him after finally telling the truth, it is not what
he sees in her eyes. Just sadness that he and her both abandoned their Peeta
when he needed them the most. A salty tear drops from his nose to the forest
floor.

"Guilt," he says after a while, "The reason was guilt. And I was jealous. Don't
make a mistake Katniss, Peeta always loved you. After the hijacking he did not
reach out to me. He reached out to you. I didn't want to come between that. I
am not, I was not what he needed to heal."

"Needed," she repeats back to him, "That is where you're wrong. Peeta needed
you. He still needs you. I didn't understand until today what was missing."

She sighs deeply.

"Look at us, two kids from the Seam, entirely smitten with the a town boy," she
laughs shortly, "We're really stupid, aren't we?"

"Doesn't it feel wrong to talk about Peeta, without him knowing anything about
it?" asks Gale.

They stay silent for so long he thinks she's forgotten he is here.

"Peeta trusts me," she says and her tone is gentle, "That's the strangest
thing. One would believe that after all that has happened, he would never show
that much understanding, or doubt my every word. Since we've been together I
have been waiting for the ball to drop. Was waiting for the day he calls me
Mutt again. It's strange. Who forgives, just like that? Obviously Peeta does.
Remains open, where I am guarded. We can talk about everything. I try to be
honest with him. And he tries to be honest with me. At least I thought he was.
Honest. This is confusing."

"Aren't you mad? Or even," he gulps, "Even jealous?"

"You think I should be?" she asks, and then continues, frowning, "Yeah, I
suppose that is what a normal person should be feeling."

"No, wait. This is not what I was trying to imply," he says, indignantly.
"You're normal. We thought you would react a bit more...betrayed, I guess? When
Peeta and I discussed coming clean, we were both positive that you would hate
the thought. Be disgusted."

She scowls at him.

"I'm not exactly celebrating. But so much has happened. I cannot say what I
would've done, said or felt if you had told me then. Neither Peeta nor you...I
didn't..I mean, I don't own Peeta. He is his own person and so are you. After
the games I couldn't give you or Peeta what you wanted from me. Maybe it is
even natural that you both looked for something I wasn't able to provide. Maybe
I am still not able to do that. Somehow...I know this sounds twisted, but
somehow you two being..." she pauses, searching for a word, "..intimate with
one another, makes the predicament easier to solve."

'Katniss is confusing', he thinks to himself. 'Did I ever really knew her at
all?' Has she always been like this? Or did she change?

"Where do we go from here?" he says quietly, after thinking for a moment. "What
do we do now?"

A confused wrinkle appears on Katniss' face. They are at a crossroad. He can
sense it. She stands in front of him, face milder than it had been all day.

"We go to Peeta," she says, "You're right about me being unfair. Doing this
behind his back. We will tell him about my plan, ask what he thinks of it...and
then, I guess, it'll be his decision. How to move forward. Okay?"

Gale feels like he has to think. Needs more time to process. She's pushing him
hard, he's only been here for a few hours. He doesn't feel a hundred percent
confident about her plan. Peeta could reject the idea. And then he would have
to leave, leave the District like a dog with the tails between his legs. He
can't tell her that this would kill him. That he wouldn't be able to come back
from a rejection like that. With Peeta and Katniss continuing their journey
together, without him.

While that thought hurts, he is aware that he is the intruder this time. The
third wheel, the one who is about to become a factor in a relationship between
a man and a woman. A couple that are perceived to be perfect together, who have
been through so much. It doesn't sound like Katniss has really given that much
thought about adding a third person and what that might mean. Are they, are
Katniss and Peeta stable enough? Is their love strong enough? Is there any
place left? And does Gale even want that place, when he is never going to be
the one and only? Is he that person?

He studies her closely. She is waiting for an answer, an answer he doesn't
have. Her reaction to his confession was too mild. She didn't have any chance
to process it. Might be she is still too shocked to realize what Gale and Peeta
did. Or what that meant. For them. For her and Peeta. He doesn't want to go
into detail, but if they are ought to be in a setting where all three of them
are naked, have sex...her and Peeta for the first time even, there are truths
that have to be faced. Details that have to be talked about.

"Okay?" she asks once more, voice less confident, more girlish.

Gale shrugs. It's not for him to decide, at least right now. Peeta must be
included in the discussion. The thought of seeing him, hearing him talk, maybe
even touching him makes his heart flutter. He stands up, shouldering the
pheasant on his back.

"Let's go," he answers.
There is no use in procrastinating.

"Let's hear what Peeta thinks."
Chapter End Notes
     Katniss has some fancy ideas. And seems cool with the thought of
     Hawlark. But is she really? And what does Peeta, the boy with the
     bread have to say about all this action behind his back? What do you
     think?
***** Home *****
Chapter Summary
     Gale, Katniss and Peeta finally talk it out in Peeta's kitchen.
Chapter Notes
     I'm not a hundred percent happy with this chapter, but I hope you'll
     enjoy it anyway.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Once they leave the deepness of the woods, where trees grow so closely as if
they wanted to guard each other, the rain lets up. Breathing in deeply, Gale
remembers the scent. This earthy, warm fragrance of spring, of the woods. There
is a transformation, a difference. That slight burn, that black filter, the
dark film that once overlayed every surface of this place - gone. The mines are
definitely gone. It is hard to believe that Gale had only spent a year in that
place. After two or three weeks the training period had been over and after two
months it felt like he'd been working down there all his life. School was like
a pleasant memory, and over time he had to go down there he felt himself get
colder and colder. It had been expected, it had been his path in life. Nobody
asked if that was okay with him. If the pain of doing the same work that killed
his father might be too much to ask. The Capitol didn't ask these kind of
questions. The people Katniss begged him to see as more than Monsters, they had
no idea where their riches, their luxury, warm houses came from. How they were
built on the bodies of innocent people. Even after all this time, he hates them
for all that he's lost.

Looking at Katniss, right beside him, he knows he'll never be able to tell her
that. He has grown up, he has seen the error of his ways. And Prim - he'll
never forget her. Hating the Capitol for what they did to him, his mother and
siblings is part of him. He'll never forgive. And he'll carry that in his heart
forever.

As they're nearing the District, Katniss body language changes. Her relaxed
grace, her catlike movements, her natural stance leave her body, dripping away
like the last of the raindrops. She begins to walk unnaturally stiffer.
Clenches her fist, unclenches it. 'She's afraid', Gale realizes. It's
impossible to fool him, knowing his Catnip so well.

Katniss is panicking.

They haven't said a word, so she startles when he lightly touches her back.

"Catnip?" he asks, voice calm and soothing.

"Yeah," she answers looking straight ahead, "Yeah...I guess, he must be back by
now. He works early, gets home around noon. You know...we could..or maybe we
should go to the bakery?"

It seems like she is talking to herself. Gale feels the first signs of panic
swelling inside his chest as well. He's going to see Peeta. Peeta. He's going
to see him. Oh.

"Bakery?" he asks, feeling kind of stupid, like he is on some drug. Slow and
sluggish.

"Yeah, yeah," she continues, "His bakery. Well it's more of a market stall
really, the buildings ain't finished yet. He mostly bakes at home. There is an
outside oven in town, a makeshift one. That he uses in summer."

Gale shrugs. So Peeta returned to do his father's profession. He doesn't know
how to feel about this. He hated his own father's work. But baking is something
Peeta enjoyed, it's not like the mines. Not every man feels the same need to
leave all that he's ever known behind. Peeta is different to him. Better than
him.

"What about his painting?" he murmurs, when they step out of the woods, on the
meadow.

"What?" Katniss stops and turns her head sharply in his direction.

"Nothing," he keeps on moving, not wanting to send her in a frenzy. "Left or
right?"

Left is the Victor's Village. Right is Town and Seam. Or it was. Before.

He turns left when she doesn't answer, but slows down his walk. Behind the
meadow there is a little hill, a small slope downwards ending in a path. A path
he often used in the darkness.  A path he feels like he's walked all his life
when it had been only a few fleeting months. Visiting Peeta at night.

"What do you mean? What do you know about Peeta's painting?" Katniss asks
curtly, back at his side again, hurrying to catch up.

His pace becomes faster. He feels like he's being pulled towards the Village.
Unable to answer that question, he ignores the girl beside him. To answer
wouldn't be good. He thinks he recognizes her tone. It's a tone he rarely heard
in her voice. Jealousy. She doesn't understand. She never understood. In the
woods, earlier, that was false bravery. That he might know Peeta, that he might
know more about Peeta's heart than she does, Katniss doesn't understand this.
Them. And might not be able to understand it ever. The three of them together,
that appears like a childish vision from someone who didn't think clearly.

They walk fast, Katniss a few steps behind, huffing slightly. At the end of the
path two spruces open up like a curtain and present the first houses of the
Village. It didn't change. Looks exactly like he remembers. Might be the only
place in the District that wasn't destroyed.

Entering the Village from the back, he steps on the gravel of the road. He
makes out a figure of a man at the fountain in the middle, walking around it
and turning to Peeta's house.

His heart is thundering, his blood prickling, feels like it is replaced with
that sparkling liquor that people in the Capitol drink when celebrating.

"Peeta," he yells, and his feet break into a run, as if they are moving with a
mind of their own.
 
===============================================================================


The man stops and turns around. It is Peeta. His hair is blonde, more blonde
than he remembers, wheat-like, locks rugged. He wears a white shirt, checked
trousers and a white apron, with dark patches on the side. Baker through and
through. He seems taller than two years ago. As soon as Gale is a few feet away
he sees the shock in Peeta's eyes. The disbelief.

That confirms it. He had no idea. The surprised look forms into a smile...he's
smiling!

"Gale," he hears Peeta say the words, sees his lips forming his name, his eyes
shining at the recognition and then he embraces his boy in a strong, needy hug
pulling him up a bit, so that Peeta's feet leave the ground. He smells like
flour, cinnamon and he is warm, warm and safe in Gale's arms.

There. It is there. That feeling. Something he hasn't felt for years. Is he
allowed to? To feel that love, that happiness again? Or is he doomed to never
let these feelings in again? He is only here because she thinks he owes her.

Her.

Katniss.

Without warning he lets Peeta go and jumps back. He flies around, looking back.
His eyes are wild, trying to see. He looks over to her house. Nothing. She is
gone.

Gale swallows, not understanding where he lost her. When had she decided to
leave? Was she still with him when they entered the Village? Did she see him
embrace Peeta?

He curses himself. Why did he forget all about Katniss all of a sudden? He
didn't ignore her on purpose, he just completely forgot she existed as soon as
they drew nearer to the Village. And she disappeared.

He flies back to look right into Peeta's face, who still has that shocked look,
that surprise written all over his face. Before he can say anything, anything
at all. Peeta propels himself into his arms again, pressing his torso against
him. Then Peeta's eyes flutter close, his head moves closer, his lips meet
Gale's and it is like they are back, back at the slag heap all those years ago.

They kiss. It's not slow and soft, not a sweet hello, it is wild and dirty and
gosh, Gale is feeling that tingle in his pants. He is getting hard in broad
daylight, like back then, when he was a horny teenager. And like then, he takes
a step back when he feels Peeta responding to him.

"What are you doing?" Peeta asks, stepping forward again, not ready to let go.

Confusion, Arousal, Happiness, Pain. All these emotions are swirling through
Gale's mind, like a carousel that the operator has lost control of.

"Lil' one," he croaks, and then..."Katniss."

Peeta's eyes grow wide. Looking around, he steps back, rearranges his pants
quickly.

"She'll be here any moment," Peeta whispers, his face showing anguish. "What
have I done?"

"No...no, wait," he answers quickly, "She knows that I'm here. She invited me."

"Where is she?" Peeta doesn't seem to understand, taking a few steps around
Gale, searches the Village with his eyes. "Gale, where is she? Did she see us?"

"I don't know. She...we were together, walking to the Village together and
suddenly she was gone. I don't know. I don't think she saw."

But she did, something in his mind seems to scream. She saw and knows.
Huntress. Lurking in the shadows. Most likely watching from somewhere.

Is she hurt? He doesn't know. Confused, that's for sure.

"No," Peeta moans, expression pained.  He grabs onto Gale's jacket. "She
knows..she's been suspecting...so secretive, these days, she was...what did she
tell you? Why are you here?"

He frowns, not anticipating this reaction from Peeta. And what should he
answer? Katniss is elusive, but this is not something that should come from
him. It is her and Peeta that are in a relationship. They must work this out
somehow, without him interfering.

"I'm here because Katniss invited me. Where she went, I have no idea. But she
invited me and we talked earlier. And yes, she does know about us. I told her."

Peeta stares at Gale as if he has grown two heads.

"What did you tell her?" Peeta growls. His eyes, so wide and open before are
slits now. "What does she know?"

"Peeta..."

"Tell me," he demands.

Gale has not expected this panic, this frantic person in front of him. At first
it seemed like Peeta acted on instinct, even kissed him. Now there is panic,
fear in his face. So different from the Peeta who insisted that they tell
Katniss about their relationship.

"I told her the truth. That we met at the Slag Heap. That you went there with
Mia Wolk. That we kissed, that we continued to meet, that we made out. That we
did everything short of fucking, because you wanted her to be your first. That
it ended before your second reaping. That's what I told her. Do you remember
that? Or did you conveniently forget that too, when you were hijacked?"

"Gale," Peeta pleads, "You don't understand."

Peeta turns and leans down on the edge of the fountain, sitting down, hands
formed into fists clenching the fabric of his checkered trousers.

"It is not that easy."

The truth is that Gale is sorry. Sorry for Peeta and the hijacking, the torture
and all that he went through. And he knows that he did not try to talk to Peeta
after the war. He didn't even try. But some part of him, a part he had buried
throughout these last years is hurt, too. Hurt that Peeta loved Katniss more.
That Peeta chose Katniss. And that he never tried to contact him again. Never
asked how Gale was faring. Like him - never tried.

"No, it's not," Gale says. "You have to talk to Katniss, when she finds it in
herself to come out from wherever she is hiding. Talk to her. Don't be afraid,
she is not angry with us. You have nothing to fear."

Peeta keeps shaking his head.

"What I don't understand," Gale continues, "Is that you obviously remember what
happened. So why not talk to Katniss? Why not confess? You were pretty keen on
telling her before the Quarter Quell announcement. You're in a relationship.
Where is the honesty in that?"

"You know nothing about our relationship," Peeta answers. His voice is not
cold. He simply states the fact.

"I know enough," Gale simply replies, "I know that Katniss is worried about you
two. I know that you think of me.  After all these years. That kiss right now?
That wasn't a kiss from someone who moved on. You desire me still. I know it."

Gale doesn't know where the cockiness in his voice comes from. He doesn't feel
confident at all. At least he didn't until he stepped into the Victor's
Village. Something in the way Peeta reacted to him changed his attitude.

That kiss. It was that kiss. Peeta kissed him out of a primal instinct. Like he
was drawn to him, like whatever he was thinking or rationalizing didn't matter,
he couldn't help himself. This is what makes Gale feel confident, makes him
feel strong. However this turns out, Peeta is still drawn to him. Or even more.
He knows he can coax it out of Peeta, because Peeta has always been the one who
was open with his feelings. And because deep down, Gale still remains confident
in his ability to seduce even the most reluctant person.

Out of the corner of his vision he registers movement, a long black braid
disappearing behind the wall of Peeta's house. Katniss is out there. Waiting.
For...? Maybe it wasn't such a good idea for both of them to appear and
confront Peeta. Who knows what is going on his mind?

He sits down next to Peeta, close, like a lover would.

"Lil' one," he whispers into Peeta's ear, making him shudder, "I'm going for a
walk around the District. Say hello to my relatives, get my luggage from the
station."

Sliding his arms around Peeta's back, he quickly scans the Victor's Village.
The houses lie silent, the misty perspiration leaving little foggy clouds
behind. The dampness is turning into humidity, the golden sun nowhere to be
seen. In the distance a deep rumbling can be heard. Thunder. Other than
Haymitch Abernathy no one lives here, and his house looks dead to Gale. It is
daring, bold and he doesn't know what makes him do it. He doesn't want to
embarrass Peeta, but he wants... something. Something to fester in Peeta's
mind, something to remember when he finally talks to Katniss. His hand moves
between Peeta's legs to cup the bulge Peeta tried to hide earlier. His movement
is swift, confident, a bit rough. A firmer touch from Gale, that's what Peeta
needs. A different treatment than the one that he imagines is Katniss' style.

"She is hiding behind your house," he informs Peeta, who gasps. At the contact
or at the information, Gale isn't sure. "Talk. And be honest this time." He
squeezes the erection once more, while pressing the softest of kisses on the
brightly flushing cheek of his boy. He withdraws his hand and stands up, moving
towards the road to town.

"Gale," Peeta says, and he turns, seeing Peeta's hand reaching out, looking
vulnerable, "Don't leave."

"Peeta," he starts, feeling his cocky facade breaking already, his confidence
ebbing away. Realizing that he is acting like an idiot. He hurt Peeta. And now
expects him to just deal with it.

"I'm not leaving. I swear, by all that is precious to me, I'm just going for a
walk, I'm coming back."

"Promise?" Peeta asks, voice quavering.

"I promise," he says, "I'm not running away. Katniss even prepared the guest
room for me. Apparently, I will be sleeping in your house tonight."

He gives Peeta a reassuring smile, turns and walks away swiftly. For some
reason his eyes are wet. It is hard to go, every step hurts.

Why is it so hard to walk, to make himself move? Before he passes through the
gate he hesitates for a second, turns around. Peeta is still sitting on the
edge of the fountain, looking up.

Up at her.

She is standing in front of him. He can't hear, is too far away. Peeta's eyes
are red, Katniss expression neutral. They look at each other and he can't read
them, and in this moment he realizes Peeta's right. He knows nothing about
Katniss and Peeta and their love for each other. He doesn't know what makes
them laugh. He doesn't know what they talk about at night. He doesn't know what
they do in the evening, what their routine is, what kind of music they listen
to, how they act in front of strangers. If they hold hands, when they stroll
through the streets of District 12. He doesn't know how they touch, how they
kiss in private. His kisses with Katniss were normal, average kisses. He kissed
her like he kissed any girl. There wasn't much difference between kissing
Katniss and kissing Laika.

They were never in a  relationship, never had been a real couple. He never even
touched her tits, most kisses had been chaste, so he wouldn't scare her with
his more passionate side, knowing she didn't like to be attacked like that.

And Peeta. He had kissed Peeta when he had been seventeen, a naive kid who had
not even done that much exploring. While he wants to believe what they had was
real, it wasn't a relationship. No one had known. They didn't spend their days
together, they didn't take long walks, they didn't play chess, they didn't know
each other's family, because Gale wouldn't allow it. They never really did
normal things together. To be honest, he never did that with any of his
conquests. He called Namy and Becca his girlfriends, but were they real
relationships? He never had one. The one he always imagined having with
Katniss, the one he imagines his parents had. No, Gale has no idea how a real
adult relationship is supposed to work. He turns away from Katniss and Peeta
who are as much a couple in love as can be.

What now? He knows he can't be there when Katniss tells Peeta about her plan.
And he knows that he shouldn't be there when Peeta tells Katniss in his own
words what happened between him and Gale. The panicked reaction makes Gale
suspect that Peeta has been trying to hide not only all about his time with
Gale, but also about his sexuality. About that side of him that needs a
different kind of touch. Peeta is afraid of losing Katniss, underestimating the
length she would go to make sure he is happy. Unaware how much this girl really
does love him. Peeta was panicking because he was afraid of losing Katniss.
Knowing that it would destroy him.

As Gale walks towards Town, his thoughts return to his Catnip. Standing at the
fountain, looking at Peeta. It is clear that there is no future for him and
Peeta independent of Katniss. He already knew that. He had known when he left
for District 2. Katniss and him independent of Peeta had never been a
possibility after she was in the Games with the boy. Peeta and Katniss without
each other is impossible. What Katniss offered though...it's not a true
relationship. Can there even be a relationship between three people? Can there
be equal love, equal treatment between three? Isn't it more like, there is
always a couple and a third person? In this case Gale as the third wheel?

In all that is he only there for the sex? Like some sort of neutral, asexual
being, who is not allowed to touch, to feel, to participate? Does Katniss know
what she is asking here? He can't do what she asks. It's not that he wouldn't
be able to hold himself back, he is more than able to control his urges. He
probably could. Once, for their first time, it might be okay. But if he isn't
ever allowed to do more, to touch at least Peeta, he doesn't want to.

The first houses of Town come into view, and Gale decides to not visit his
uncle after all. Instead he walks back to the station to get his stuff from the
locker. The train from this morning is still in the station and for one short
crazy second Gale thinks of boarding it and breaking that promise he made. To
see Peeta again, that was all he hoped for and what he got. He should be happy
with what he got. A glimpse, a touch, even a kiss. It should be more than
enough. All that bullshit Katniss fed him in the woods, about owing, he doesn't
agree and he finally realizes why he can never do what Katniss asks of him.
Leaving these two afterwards would break him, destroy the last shred of self
love he has left. He wouldn't be able to function if they set him aside. It is
selfish. He wants to help Katniss, he really does, but does that warrant
destroying himself in the process? In the last two years it became clear that
he has been unable to move on. He can't go back to District 2 after Katniss and
Peeta have sex and go back to his life, listen to his mother relaying gossip of
their situation every other week. Hearing of their marriage, hearing about the
family that they will surely built in the future. He can't.

Sitting down on one of the benches, he stares at the tracks. The train is
getting loaded, a bunch of young men are working hard so that the it can leave
at the allotted time. Some of them look like they are from the Seam. He thinks
he recognizes two men, boys really,  working hard, sweating in their heavy work
attire.

He sees them running towards the fence, sees himself running behind them,
urging them on, shouting at the top of his lungs to leave all belongings
behind, to run, run, run. He shakes his head. Whenever he remembers that day,
his thoughts of the burning District transform into the image of bombs hitting
the Capitol street where Primrose Everdeen and a group of other children, who
look eerily similar to his siblings, catch fire.

"Gale Hawthorne?" One of the young men stands in front of him, smiling
brightly. It's a lanky guy, with dark hair and grey eyes. His gait reminds Gale
of Laika's husband.

"I thought it was you," the man says, grinning, "My name is Sean Leverbourne.
You saved my family. You saved my life. I...just...thank you."

He smiles weakly and shakes the hand Sean is offering. "Nice to meet you. I
thought you looked familiar."

"Yeah, I was a young lad though...only fourteen."

"Then you're young still," Gale smiles, against his will.

"I'll never forget that day, Mr. Hawthorne," Sean says, "That I can stand here,
that I am alive. It's all thanks to you. I've always wanted to see you and
thank you personally."

"It's thanks to the Mockingjay that we even got this far," Gale whispers. He
doesn't feel like a hero today, and doesn't know how to react to this boy's
admiring and thankful words.

Sean shakes his head. "That's not true Mr. Hawthorne. Listen, my father died
from a sickness in his lungs. He caught that in the mines, shortly before the
bombs hit the District. He was always criticizing the Capitol, always
complaining about the mines. But he never did anything, you know? He insisted
that life is unfair, and in the end his death meant nothing. You did something.
You took action. For a better world, there need to be sacrifices. I admire
that. Not every person is that strong."

A loud signal startles Gale and even Sean looks a bit surprised. The train is
ready to leave. Gale stands up, clutching his bag to his chest. It's now or
never.

Stay or leave. Leave or stay.

"Are you leaving?" Sean asks but Gale doesn't answer, stares at the train for a
long time.

"It was a pleasure meeting you," Sean says hesitantly, "I'll tell my mother I
met you. It was good seeing you back home."

Sean waves and returns to the other end of the platform. Gale's gaze follows
Sean until he disappears. The train starts to move and he is still standing
here.

'Home', Sean has said.

District Twelve is Gale's home. 'Home is where the heart is', Mr. Lofler had
said.
His heart is with Peeta.
His heart can only ever be with Peeta. He cannot leave, knowing that Peeta
still has feelings for him. Appearing weak and letting Katniss dictate the
conditions of their love, their sex, is not what is going to happen. He is
going to take a stand and tell them, tell her, it's all or nothing. How this is
going to work, how exactly a relationship between three people is going to work
he has no idea. He just knows that he can't be sidelined. They need him. So
he's going to make himself useful.
===============================================================================


The Victor's Village is as silent as ever. He is not sure he likes this
silence. Is not sure if this is the right place for Katniss and Peeta. Alone
with Haymitch Abernathy. His apartment in Two is at the edge of a bustling
neighborhood. Life is happening just around the corner. Not that he joins the
crowd at any time, but he enjoys the feeling that he could simply walk down the
stairs and sit down in a small bar or café and join the locals after a long day
of work to socialize. It doesn't matter that he does not, the possibility is
there. If he would move back, he'd rather get an apartment in Town than live
here, in this dead area. If he would move back...would he? Would he be able to
give up work and return here? There is a lot do here, it certainly wouldn't get
boring. Commuting between Twelve and Two is daunting. He would have to stay.

The little fountain stands lonely, Peeta and Katniss are nowhere to be seen. It
is getting dark, he's been gone for long. Too long. Might be, they think that
he took off. The light is on in Peeta's house, which surprises him. He thought
they lived in her house, not in his. He creeps around the house and stands in
front of the kitchen door at the back, remembering the first time he visited
Peeta in the dark. It had been cold that day and Peeta hadn't been home. It's
almost like he can taste the fruitcake on his tongue.
Pushing the door open, there they are. Sitting at that huge table. A sweet
scent is in the air, and Gale's stomach rumbles. He hasn't eaten anything at
all, the whole day.

They both look up at him, grey and blue. They look exhausted. Both have been
crying, he can see. Closing the door behind him, he gets rid of his jacket by
laying it over one of the chairs.

"I'm hungry," he states, his gaze jumping between Katniss and Peeta, "Any
fruitcake left?"

Peeta stares at him out of these huge blue eyes, as if he can't connect the
words. As if he doesn't believe, it's really Gale who is standing here, in his
kitchen, years and years after so much happened.

Peeta blinks. Once, twice and then stands up.

"You're lucky, Gale," he says, "There is one in the oven right now. Coffee?"

"Please," he answers, conscious of the way Katniss musters him. She looks him
up and down and there is something new in her gaze, he has not seen before.
It's hard to pinpoint what exactly that is. She looks at Peeta and back to Gale
who sits down next to her.

"Everything okay?" he asks gently.

"I don't know," she answers. "I just don't know."

"You guys talked?"

She bites her lip and nods. Peeta has his back to them.

"So you told him your plan?" She nods once more, staring at the table.

Peeta is standing in front of the coffee tin, stiff stilted back.

"What do you think, Peeta?" he asks, finally, "You're ready to have sex with me
as your loyal watchdog, two feet away?"

Katniss gasps. Peeta turns around, blushing, coffee in his hand. His gaze
flitters to Katniss for a millisecond. He steps closer to Gale and hands him
the cup, then turns to the oven, putting on his mitts to get the cake. Gale
waits. Katniss, too. There is a tension in the air. They didn't expect him to
be that blunt. They didn't think he would cut to the chase like this. The cake
is cooling on a rack when Peeta turns back to look at Katniss.

After a while, he turns to Gale and nods. "It's what Katniss wants," he says.

Katniss smiles and Gale feels the first stirring of anger in his stomach. This
situation is weird. It's going to blow up. Why can't Katniss see that?

"Wrong answer," he responds, "Are you ready to have sex with me watching,
Peeta? Answer the question."

"What does that even mean, am I ready? Can one ever be ready for this? It is
crazy, the whole idea."

"Peeta," Katniss interrupts, "You know it is the only way. And you are ready.
We both are. Gale is leaving in two weeks. We need to get this sorted out until
then. We need to be able to do it without him as a safety net. We don't have
any time to waste."

"You're leaving?" Peeta whispers, looking at Gale and there is the slightest
bit of longing in his question. Katniss crosses her arms in front of her
breasts and answers before Gale can say anything.

"Yes, he's leaving. Don't you understand? We must act soon. You can talk, get
used to one another again. But please, Peeta. We need to get this over with.
Please."

Get this over with....he feels a drumming inside his head. Katniss understands
nothing. And Peeta is so ready to follow her every wish, he has learned to
suppress his own desires to accommodate hers. They do need him, that's clear.
This dynamic is not healthy.

"I'm not leaving in two weeks, Lil'one," he says, looking at Peeta and at Peeta
only, "I'm going to stay here. I'm moving back to Twelve to be with you. Don't
force yourself into this because of time restraints. We can do whatever we
want, whenever we want. There is no pressure."

"Gale," Katniss gasps, "That's not what..."

"Listen to me, Catnip," he turns around, "You want Peeta to be happy. That's
admirable and kind of you. But the way to that happiness...Your plan will never
work. I like you...but I'm not sure if I'm in love with you anymore. I've
missed you and yes, there is a certain desire I feel towards you. When you
invite me in your bedroom and expect me to just watch, I have to say to you:
No. I can't, I won't be your watchdog. I want to be with Peeta. I have been in
love with him for a long time. I understand that you two have something
together, something I can never be a part of. That's okay. I don't expect to be
with you Katniss. I know you don't want me. But I cannot sit back and watch.
It's not good for me. You believe I owe you, but this is a big mistake, I'm not
willing to make. It would not only hurt me, it would hurt Peeta. That's not
what you want."

"But," Katniss begins, eyebrows crunched into a frown.

"Did you listen, really listen to what Peeta said? He said, 'It's what Katniss
wants' Tell her, Peeta."

He leans back. Now it's up to them.

Katniss clenches her fists, anger written in her face.

"Is that true, Peeta?" she presses out, "You don't want to?"

Peeta's expression is one of helpless confusion. Looking at Gale, looking at
Katniss.

"I really don't know," he says finally, "That idea of yours, that is not as bad
as Gale makes it seem. But maybe the rules don't have to be that strict. I
mean...it's our fist time and it's not going to be that great anyway...but
maybe...if we do it together...maybe if Gale helps us along and..."

He catches both of their gazes and blushes deeply. "Or maybe not," he whispers.

"What do you want, Peeta?" Katniss asks. "Tell us, straight ahead."

He bites his lip, frowning.

"Peeta," Katniss says once more, "I love you. And it seems Gale does too. I
have no idea how that happened and why, but we do, both of us do. Me and Gale,
we have our issues. But...I'm willing to put them aside, if it means you'll be
happy."

"It would be selfish," Peeta groans, raking a hand through his locks, "I'm not
selfish. Especially when it comes to making this good for you."

"It's okay," Gale stands up, moving towards Peeta. "It's okay to be selfish. It
is okay to say what you want. We want to make this work. For you. We can make
this work. Katniss and me. We're a team. Partners. We know what to do, to get
the results we want."

He stops in front of Peeta and glances at Katniss, who seems to make herself
small in her chair. There is no confidence in any of this. He has to be the one
who initiates things. She won't do it. Maybe they need to have another hunting
trip in the woods, just the two of them. Where he teaches her about men, like
he taught her to make snares. While he and Peeta are familiar with each other
in an intimate setting, Katniss is not. No wonder she is nervous.

"Katniss," he growls, feeling Peeta shiver next to him. "Come here."

Reluctantly she climbs to her feet, out of the chair, stops a feet away. He
grabs her wrist and pulls her towards him and Peeta. Then he interweaves his
hand with hers and looks her in the eye.

"I am here, because I want to be," he says, low, deep, "I'll stay here because
I want to see Peeta and you happy again. I will help you. I will watch you. And
in turn..."

Gale grabs Peeta's hand with the other. "In turn, I will get Peeta."

Katniss hands in his spasms. Peeta whimpers and his lips part, transform in a
delightful little o.

"Get?" Katniss asks, "What?"

"Get you to be my boyfriend, of course." His attention is solely on Peeta on
that impossibly deep blue.

He moves in without hesitation, breaches that little o and pushes his tongue
inside. Peeta moans into him and begins, responds as eagerly he can. He feels
Katniss hand getting loose, knows she wants to get away, wants to flee again,
but he's not having it. Strong as he is it presents no problem to press her
hand into his. Without hesitation he leads her hand to Peeta's crotch. As
expected they find a small tent. Overlaying his bigger hand with hers they both
begin to rub Peeta gently.

"Oh, oh," Katniss gasps, "Oh."

After a few moments of this, he stops kissing Peeta, who had his eyes closed.
They open, like he awakens from a dream. His hips are moving towards Katniss'
hand and he smiles serenely.

"What do you want, love?"

Gale turns towards Katniss. He didn't expect her to speak, but her cheeks are
flushed and her eyes are eager. She's licking her lips, unconsciously.

Peeta grins and for one moment seems to be forget that this is real, and not
dreaming his eyes flutter close again. "I want to take you, Katniss. Slow and
gently, at first. Tender, like you deserve. When you're used to me I want to
change the rhythm, take you fast and hard."

Katniss nods, "Yeah. I want that, too."

"And while I'm buried inside your sweet little pussy, I want Gale to take my
ass from behind."

A light laughter, almost a giggle escapes Gale. Oh, Peeta. He has been holding
back, his boy.

His gaze turns to Katniss. She is still massaging Peeta with her small,
delicate hand, not realizing that Gale has taken his away. A blush is visible
on her cleavage.

He squirms closer to Peeta, rubs his nose against his earlobe.

"You wouldn't believe how often I dreamed of this, Lil'one. I promise it'll be
good. We'll treat you right. Ain't that true, Catnip?"

Katniss gives him a long look he cannot interpret. It is definitely not the
plan she had initially. Having sex with two men, this must be intimidating. But
then...she presses her lips into a straight line, her jaw tight - stubborn. He
knows that look. That is the competitive side of Katniss. The side that doesn't
appear often, the side that says 'Just you wait, I'll show you what I'm made
of.'

Instead of answering she gets on her tiptoes and kisses Peeta full on the
mouth, and for a short second he is reminded of that day in the sewers of the
Capitol. It seems like a desperate attempt to get Peeta's attention. When she
doesn't even need to do this. Peeta is Katniss' partner, through better and
worse. She doesn't need to be jealous. Katniss' self esteem is not the best,
that's obvious. She claws at him, wraps her arms around him and pushes her body
into his.

While he watches them kiss, no - making out would be the better term, he
wonders already, how to show her that they are not in a competition for Peeta's
love. That sharing won't mean getting half the love. He doesn't know yet how to
navigate with Katniss in bed. Getting her aroused won't be a problem. If she
acts disgusted with him, with Gale... he cannot anticipate how that's going to
work out. He'll try for Peeta's sake. For Peeta's love. And that's all he can
do.

With a smack Katniss pulls herself away from Peeta and gives Gale a challenging
look.

"That's right, Gale," she announces, the slightest trace of frustration in her
voice, locking gaze with Peeta.
"We'll treat you right."
Chapter End Notes
     Gosh, I thought a threesome would be the easy way out. It's not, I
     can tell you. Also, I'm aware that this seems like a big tease.
     Forgive me, and tell me what you think anyway? I'm always thankful
     for any kind of feedback.
***** The Market Place of District 12 *****
Chapter Summary
     Gale and Peeta get to the point. Talking.
Chapter Notes
     Uhm yes. Here I am again, with another chapter of this lovely story.
     What can you expect from this tenth chapter, dear reader? Eh.....all
     I can say is sorry in advance and leave you with another hopeful:
     Please enjoy this tenth chapter!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
There is a sound in his room. The morning sun still weak behind his squinted
eyes, there seems to be no clock in sight, making it impossible to tell the
time. All he knows is that Peeta left a while ago, when Gale turned around to
get more sleep, listening to that familiar walk of his love. He honestly cannot
remember the last time he slept in, and whatever that noise is, it's annoying.
A cough can be heard and he hesitantly opens his eyes fully, only to see
Katniss standing in his room, watching him.

"Catnip," he groans, "What are you doing here?"

He's not mad that she's here, just a little startled. Katniss is fully dressed.
Not in yesterday's hunting clothes. She wears a white tank top instead of her
hunting jacket and a pair of worn-out, tight fitted jeans. She's barefooted,
her dark tresses not in her usual braid, but rather wrapped loosely into a top
knot held together by a green scrunchy. For some reason, she's not wearing a
bra. Katniss' tits are not that big, but he can see the roundness, the softness
and her slightly hardened nipples. The fact that it's morning and that Katniss
doesn't seem to care, or doesn't realize, because she probably always runs
around like this for Peeta, pumps more blood to the already engorged area
between his legs. So much for not desiring her anymore.

"Can I come in?" she asks, the slightest hint of hesitation in her eyes. Her
gaze flickers to his rumbled sheets, making him slightly self conscious.

"You're already in," he answers, then waves her in anyway. Katniss has shown so
much confidence, so much fighting spirit when it comes to Peeta. But when she
is with Gale, he sees her there is that girl who holds herself back, a girl
that seems...unsure. She doesn't need to be, but there are things, that
probably cannot be changed.

She comes closer and sits on the edge of the bed. His cock is getting harder,
he can smell her sweat, her natural scent and the sweetness of pine. Maybe she
took a shower earlier? While he contemplates on how to hide it his erection,
Katniss looks at him imploringly until he can't help but blush. When was the
last time he blushed?

"What?" he asks curtly. She is not the only one who is nervous, that's clear.

"It's just..I'm still trying to figure it out. You out. What made it come to
this. How you suddenly went from disliking him to being in love with him. How
it all happened. And why Peeta went along with it."

"You know that it's been a while," he answers, trying to be honest, staring at
the ceiling, "It seemed crazy at the time, but I felt so drawn to him. First I
wanted him to stop making out with girls. Any girl. And then at some point I
got jealous about you, too. I think that's when I realized there was more to it
than just making out. I never cared what the girls I've been with did when I
wasn't with them. This feeling was completely new to me."

"You've only been with girls?" she asks, playing with the edge of his blanket.

"Yeah," he answers, "Until Peeta. I've been visiting the slag heap for a long
time, before I even met you in the woods. But you know that already."

"Who?" she asks, making him wince.

Who? Does she want a list?

"You probably wouldn't know most of them," he says gently, knowing it's a lie.
While she hasn't been friends with his lovers, Katniss knows them. The District
was not that populated, her mother the only makeshift apothecary in the Seam.
Katniss pauses for a while.

"Is Mia Wolk one of them?"

He stares at her, pushing himself up into a sitting position. Is she honestly
curious if he's been with Mia?

"No, gosh, no, Katniss," he reassures, "I have never been interested in Mia."

"So the three of you...never...I mean...what he said he wanted, yesterday..."

What exactly is Katniss asking here?
If he and Peeta...if they had been in a threesome before her?
He flaps back the sheets, making her startle. His cock is bulging in his
shorts. He gestures to it and then says slowly,

"I'm a guy, Catnip. I'm almost always ready to have sex. Right now? I can't
stop thinking about your tits. How sweet they look in that white shirt, how
lovely you smell. What they would feel like in my hands, what kind of noises
you would make when I would suck on your hard little nubs."

Katniss flushes red at his blunt words.

"But you know what? I'm also able to think clearly when I'm horny. I know that
you have no interest in me. So even if my body is willing to do it, my brain
stops me. I'm not thinking with my cock. The older I get, the easier it
becomes."

His heart sinks at her confused expression. There is so much she doesn't seem
to understand about sex. How will this work if Katniss doesn't understand?
Asking about Mia....asking about Mia. It's not about him, he suddenly realizes.
It's about Peeta and Mia.

"Peeta had been sixteen years old. His heart had been broken and Mia Wolk, who
had a lot experience with guys, tried to get a Victor in her bed. He tried to
resist, he really did, but he's only human. He was extremely alone. Hurt. Mia
meant nothing to Peeta, believe me. I scared her off, and that was it. He never
touched her again."

"She visited him in Thirteen," Katniss whispers, not convinced, obviously.

"So did Delly Cartwright," Gale says, "And you don't believe there is anything
between them, right?"

"Delly is our friend," Katniss answer indignantly, "She would never..."

Sweet Delly. It seems that Katniss and Peeta still see her as a friend. This is
good for them. To have more people that are close. Other than Haymitch
Abernathy.

"Like I said, you don't have to worry. We've not done any of the things, Peeta
described yesterday. We talked about it, but decided against them in the end."

His language is soft, using his words carefully. He's not sure if he should
tell her about the fights they had, or that night when he confessed his love to
Peeta. When Peeta wanted to go through with it. Whenever he had squeezed his
cock in the following years, alone in his apartment, his thoughts returned to
that night, and Peeta on that bed, offering himself to Gale. He usually came
within seconds after that.

There is a long silence. Katniss seems to stare at his slowly deflating
erection and he shudders a bit. What now?

"You..."she whimpers suddenly and he sees tears swimming in her eyes.

"You...call him...Lil'one," she chokes on the word, stifling a small sob "Why?"

Oh. There it is. The true problem.
That she noticed is good. She is not as unaware as she might believe. How to
says this without hurting her? He doesn't want that, never, being aware that
it's going to be inevitable.

"Because that's what I do, Catnip," he says gently, "Give pet names to the ones
I love."

Her eyes soften for a second.

"There is still a lot to talk about."

"Yeah."

"And it's going to be embarrassing. Awkward. Weird."

"I know. I'm nervous, too. I've never been with two people. I have no idea how
it's going to work."

"Mmmh..."

"Promise me one thing, Catnip. If you don't like something I do, you have to
say it. Don't just go along with it, because you think you have to. We have to
try, for Peeta. But if it's not working out for you, I have to know. So we can
find another way. I'll stop if you're the slightest bit turned off, I promise."

Katniss nods, still deep in thought. Then she stands up and turns towards the
door. "Peeta made breakfast. I'm usually in charge of dinner. What..." she
stops for a short sigh..."Would you like to help me?"

"Yeah," he answers, in a low voice, "I'd love to."

It might be wishful thinking, but he imagines seeing a shudder running through
her torso, before she turns to go.
===============================================================================


Spending the day with Katniss is easier than he thought it would be. After
their talk in Peeta's kitchen last night they went to Katniss' house, where
Gale moved into the guest room on the first floor. Katniss and Peeta went to
bed in their bedroom. Together. Gale didn't have that much time to think about
this, he fell asleep shortly after he hit the mattress.

Peeta had laid the table for the two of them before he left. There was a small
basket with rolls, buns, and leftover fruitcake. Colorful napkins and a vase
with a beautiful red tulip completed the picture. He raised his eyebrows at
Katniss and she laughed lightly.

"He loves to decorate," she smiled, "He is good at this. Making things
beautiful for me."

They go to check the snares and begin to prepare dinner after breakfast.

Haymitch Abernathy meets them in front of the fountain, chasing after a flock
of geese and looking Gale up and down.

"So..you're back, boy," he gnarls, "Well, greet your mother, if ya will. Always
had a thing for 'er."

Haymitch Abernathy likes his ma? The look of sheer disbelief on his face makes
Katniss laugh so loudly he almost cannot place the sound. Katniss is laughing,
like he never heard her laugh before. She had always had a sense of humor, but
pure joyous laughter? He cannot remember hearing her laugh like this. And now,
she is laughing so easily, so often. He has heard her laugh more in these few
hours than in all the years before, spending so many hours together in the
woods.

Surely this is Peeta's doing. Must be Peeta's doing.

It was the right choice. Not to go for Peeta. To leave them be.

The light laughter, that sweet innocent sound, helps him decide.

After Haymitch Abernathy disappears with the quacking flock, he turns to
Katniss.

"Catnip?"

"Yeah?" she giggles, wiping away a tear of laughter.

"Is it okay if I go talk to Peeta? Alone?"

She's stiffening up immediately, looking serious. "Talk?"

"Yes," he answers, "There are a lot of things I have to explain to him."

Gnawing on her lip she gives him a long look.
"Peeta wanted me to spend the day with you," she says slowly, "Get to know you
again."

"Oh," he says. He didn't know.

"I don't know how I feel about this. Left out, maybe? I'm not sure...I mean, I
don't know what you guys want and..."

"We will talk about that together. But...I need to have this conversation face
to face with him. Need him to understand some of the things I said and did."

"And you don't want me to be there," she says, and the tone makes it clear,
she's a little hurt.

"No," he agrees. Is sad that she's hurting but he wants, he needs alone time
with Peeta without worrying about Katniss' reaction.

"You're going to kiss?" she whispers, looking scared and flushed at the same
time, "Make out?"

"No...no. Listen Catnip, I only want to talk to him. It's complicated
enough..."

"..without me there, you mean? I'm not stupid, Gale. Yesterday, when we entered
the village you seemed in another world. Like I didn't exist. And Peeta too. I
saw you kiss, I saw where you touched him. I'm not so naive that I don't
understand the implication of what happens when you and Peeta meet in private."

There is liquid under his armpits, he is breaking out in sweat.

"Peeta told me," she continues, "What you were holding back from me in the
woods yesterday. I made him tell me, what exactly 'making out' meant."

"Oh," he says. It was clear that it would come to this. That Katniss would want
to know. Sooner or later. He is not mad at her. A small part of him is sad,
that Peeta and his private meetings, that were theirs only, are also now part
of Katniss. He will never tell her that, knowing how hurtful it would be. He
doesn't want to promise what he does next, but he knows it would be unfair to
expect more alone time with Peeta.

"Nothing is going to happen,"he soothes, "I won't even touch his hand, if
you're not ready. Yesterday it was impossible to hold myself back. Like when I
hugged you on the station. I just," he rakes a hand through his hair, "I just
missed him so much. I couldn't help myself. I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize," she says, and he cringes at her harsh tone, "That's not
necessary. What hurts me...I mean, what really hurts me is that you did things
with Peeta I have only dreamed about. He accepted your touch in a way that he
never accepted mine. It was a bit shocking to hear...and see."

Gale has a feeling, she is telling him something she didn't even tell Peeta.
That Peeta isn't accepting to her touches has probably to do more with
hijacking than with Peeta not being turned on by Katniss.

"We will talk, Catnip, only talk, okay?"

She gives a reluctant nod, her gaze glued to her feet. Breathing out slowly.
Then,

"If you hurry you can catch him in Town. You can walk back together. I'll make
a salad in the mean time."

Giving her an apologetic look he turns towards Town once more. Disappointed
that he's not supposed to kiss Peeta, but he knows all of this is too fresh for
Katniss to really understand. Walking swiftly he can't help but wonder of he
will ever be 'allowed' to do be with Peeta without her present. She and Peeta
will surely want to have alone time, and he doesn't begrudge her that. They
both should. It feels unfair, though. Unfair that he wouldn't have that
opportunity as well. There are so many things he would love to try out. His
imagination had two whole years in which he fantasized every night. Peeta had
always been so open towards sex. He cannot imagine fucking wildly, being
adventurous and free when Katniss' disapproving frown judges him for every
dirty word that leaves his mouth. He is probably worrying prematurely. Nothing
has happened so far. His steps become quicker, longer.
He's been missing Peeta the whole day already. Can't wait to see him again.
===============================================================================


Peeta Mellark is as radiant as the sun in summer. There is no trace left of
that hijacked boy he had been when Gale last saw him. He is strong and healthy,
and in the process of closing the small market stall that stands on District
12's new market place. It's hot out there, and there is a dewy drop of
perspiration on his neck. Lips tingling, Gale already feels that he should
probably take a cold shower, as soon as they make it back. He gave Katniss a
speech about how he is able to control himself, how he can be perfectly chaste.
He even promised not to touch Peeta, not knowing it would be that hard to
fulfill that promise. He should have known that Peeta is the exception to the
rule, in every context.
Getting hard in broad daylight yesterday had simply been the start. His
thoughts are running a mile a minute and he sees himself moving in, embracing
Peeta from behind, fitting that tight bottom into his crotch, making Peeta
gasp. He would lick the sweat from Peeta's neck, and it would be the best taste
he has had for a while. Licking it off, slowly, before starting to suck, to
draw out more of that sweet, arousing liquid. Peeta would squirm, moan and he
would move his hand to Peeta's belt, opening it up, out here in public. And
give his boy a long drawn out...

He shakes his head so violently, it's cracking.
Well, that hurt. And helped.

Peeta turns around in that moment, and the smile that breaks out on his face is
so light, so wonderful, his heart can't help to beat a little faster. He smiles
back and it's so obvious and clear to him in this moment that he's in love,
never stopped being in love, will never stop loving Peeta. It's not about sex
or possession, it's about genuinely wanting Peeta to be happy. And to maybe, be
a part of this happiness.

"Hey there," he says deeply, "Looks good that stall of yours. How is business?"

"Very good," Peeta beams at him.

"The new bakery will be able to open before summer is over. So I can finally
leave that makeshift stall behind. It's over there," Peeta points towards a new
line of buildings, and there is a displaying window with a shop sign on top
that says 'Mellark's bakery'. He's really doing this.

"Is that what you want?" he can't help but ask, not caring that this seems rude
in a way. When he talks to Peeta he wants to be open. Hiding his thoughts and
feelings hasn't worked so splendidly before.

Peeta locks the door of the stall with a small key and nods. "I like to be
busy, you know. Katniss needs her alone time. She is often gone for hours,
sometimes she is gone for days, doing who knows what in the woods. I couldn't
stand sitting at home, waiting for her, staring at the wall. I need this for my
sanity."

"What about your painting?" Gale inquires.

"What about it?"

"Well..." he doesn't know what he wants to hear from Peeta. This is more about
his own insecurities, probably.

"Painting is a hobby, more relaxing. I don't want to do it all day. Baking,
I've always loved. It's work for me, a job that I enjoy. You know a few months
ago, when I didn't have the makeshift oven, I only baked at home. I made
fruitcake every night, until Katniss got sick of it. She complained that
fruitcake wasn't her favorite, that her favorite were cheese buns."

Gale regards Peeta carefully. Where is he going with this?

"We were both on the edge. At a crossroad in our relationship, if you like.
Katniss wanted more, and I would lie if I said, I wasn't equally as curious.
While she was pretty confident about us taking that next step, I wasn't
convinced, and still...I don't know, scared? I got annoyed with her and told
her I'm not her personal baker. If she wanted cheese buns every day, fine, but
I wanted fruitcake for now and she just had to deal with it, alright? We had
our very first fight that night, didn't talk to each other for about two weeks.
I was mean and so was she. It was a shouting match, reminiscent of my own
parents', may they rest in peace. I felt bad, but on the other hand....I was
happy that she gave me the cold shoulder, too. It gave me privacy. To do the
things I want to do without making it all about her. I've been hiding away,
Gale. I've been hiding parts of myself and I thought Katniss wouldn't notice."

Peeta sighs deeply.

"Does she know you're here?"

"Yes, I asked her for...I guess, permission?" Gale says hesitantly, knowing how
weird that sounds.

"There is to be no making out, though," he adds, his tone slightly ironic.

"You're not saying," Peeta pouts, making Gale laugh. "Let's walk back to the
Village. You can tell me all about District 2 and your life there, okay?"

"Peeta..." Gale begins, "I wasn't lying. I want to move back here." He turns
around to look at the houses once more.

"What about that bakery building? Looks like there is enough space for an
apartment inside? What do you say, would you like to be my landlord?"

Peeta gives him a disapproving frown, "Have you really thought this through?
You've been here for one day and are willing to throw away the life you've
built for yourself, just like that?"

"It's not like that," he answers, "I want to be with you."

"I've talked to your mother," Peeta states, "We've seen you on TV. You're
famous, quite successful. It seems you have a career, your life in order.
Everything is working for you. And you hated it here, you made that clear. It
was obvious in your every word. Don't move back because you think we can't make
it work otherwise."

Gale shakes his head. "I don't give a fuck about my job, Peeta. I've only
worked so hard because I thought....it was my redemption. I wanted to shape a
better world. And I still can do it, here. This is my home too, and now that
the Capitol is gone, it is a different place. It's obvious now. I even begin to
forget where the old Districts 12 buildings were. It might be not as fancy, but
I believe it's possible to find something worthwhile to do here as well."

Peeta seems to consider that.

"You really don't care about your job?" he asks, and the first signs of doubt
can be heard.

"No," he answers, "There are few things I care about in my life. But I can say
my job is very low on the list of priorities."

"Okay, let's say this is true, but what about your family?"

Gale pales. He has forgotten about his family. Completely forgotten.
About Hazelle, Rory, Vick and Posy. The reason why he didn't lose his sanity in
his two years in District 2. But thinking back, when did he actually really see
them? He worked so much, they barely existed in his daily life.

"You'll be my family," he answers carefully, licking his lips, "If you want."

"What?" there is disbelief on Peeta's face.

"You're not a replacement. But Peeta, I'm a grown man. I don't need to look
after them as I did before. You know, I hardly ever see them. And District 2 is
not out of this world. We can visit each other."

Peeta turns away, and walks swiftly in the direction of the Victor's Village.
Gale stands for a moment, baffled that Peeta leaves him standing in mid-
conversation. Ignoring him.

"Peeta, wait," he hisses, looking around, uncomfortably aware that this
conversation took place in front of the whole town. Nobody seems to mind them,
though. People are used to Peeta and Katniss in their midst, they are just
normal people here, not the awe inspiring star crossed lovers, they are
perceived as in other Districts.

He stumbles after Peeta, hurrying to catch up. Peeta is fast, faster than he
remembers. They leave Town behind, two hundred feet, three hundred feet, until
he finally reaches Peeta, grabbing his arm.

Peeta flies around and punches Gale square in the jaw, before he can so much as
think of blocking, taking him by surprise. He feels something crack and little
lightning bolts begin to obscure his vision. Holding his jaw with one hand, he
realizes he's bitten on his tongue. The metallic taste of blood fills his
mouth.

His first instinct is to hit back, to attack. He's been in a few fights back in
the day, and he's training regularly for his job. His stance changes, he makes
himself ready to surge forward, when he finds himself looking into Peeta's red
face.
Tears and snot, pain and anguish.

His love.

Heartbroken.

"Wha?" he croaks, immediately changing his posture to look less intimidating.

"You bastard," Peeta sobs, "You stupid, idiotic asshole. What the fuck were you
thinking?"

"I'm sorry," he says soothingly, although he is not quite sure what he's
actually apologizing for. "Lil'one..."

"Don't call me that," Peeta growls, "Do you have any idea what I've been
through? Did you even once stop to consider what happened to me? That I
might've needed your help? I know you all think of me as lunatic, and that I
did not remember who I was, but that's not true. I needed your help and you as
much as flipped me off. I have not forgotten."

Gale feels hot, too hot in his own skin. Helpless. Guilt makes it hard to
breath. He chokes on the blood in his mouth, coughing.

"Let's see," Peeta continues, and his tone turns icy, staring at the distant
town behind Gale, "Let's see. I was taken captive by the Capitol. And while
they did all sort of funny stuff with my head, making me hate Katniss like I
never hated anyone before, they also had a few more little surprises in store.
Audiotapes of me and you, for starters. 'Gale Hawthorne's little whore, we have
something for you. Listen to this', is what they told me, and I knew it
wouldn't be about some innocent kisses in the woods."

Peeta's eyes search for his again. He can't believe what he's hearing. He knew
they were torturing Peeta, Delly told him about the tapes. But he never gave
that much thought later.

"Did you hear that? They called me your whore! And if that wasn't enough they
had tapes of you and Katniss fucking. I could hear everything. Flesh slapping
against flesh. Squishy noises, kissing. Every whisper, every laugh that left
her, and you, your voice, deep, growling, manly. What you said, it was
horrible. Both of you were mocking me, taunting me. Lil' slut, that's what you
called me behind my back, laughing at me. Insulting me, telling me I was such
an idiot for falling for you. Pathetic little Peeta. And do you know what was
the most humiliating? I liked it. It turned me on. I listened to that stuff and
had a constant boner. How funny, the whore likes it. Well he just has to deal
with it, we surely won't unbind him to take care of it. Haha."

There is nothing funny about that story. Gale is sobbing, spitting out more
blood. Relieved that he hasn't eaten much today, or he would've vomited all
over the pathway. He had no idea. These bastards. These fucking bastards.

"Soon enough, after you came to see me in Thirteen, I figured out that their
tapes had been fake. Shiny. I wanted to talk to you, I wanted to ask...but you
ignored me, never came back. In the Capitol you even offered to kill me. In
that basement, I thought you would help me place these memories, but you
didn't. I was in the Hospital later, was not allowed to make calls. I tried to
get hold of you through my doctor, told him everything I remembered.... I
didn't...I mean, I know you wouldn't have wanted me as your partner, but I just
wanted to talk, you know? Always foolishly hoping you would contact me. Dr.
Aurelius told me you went to District 2. And that was the last thing I heard of
you. So, Gale, tell me, what is your reasoning for that?"

Gale swallows. All words gone, all excuses resolve into nothing.

"I spent two years trying to get rid of these memories. Even tried making
myself believe that it, that we, never really happened. After a while the
people of the District began to talk about you, relatives of yours are still
here, after all. Proud of Gale Hawthorne, the local hero. We see you on TV one
evening, months later. Looking fine, looking good. Katniss starts sobbing and
runs into Prim's bedroom to cry herself to sleep, waiting for me to follow, to
offer comfort. And what do I do? I run back into my house and jerk myself off
so violently it almost tears off my skin. Thinking of your hands on me,
dreaming about getting fucked in the ass. It worried her that I began to spent
more time in my bed instead of hers. She thought it was because of jealousy,
but that's not true. It was because I missed you, I missed what we did and I
wanted it back. Even when she caught me doing it on my own, she didn't get it.
She'll never get it, no. And then, after two long years, when I finally feel
like I got it under control, she brings you here. And there you are, standing
at the Village fountain, arrogant, handsome and confident, not one hair out of
place, as strong as ever. I'm stunned. Is that real? You touch me once and I
almost soil myself on the spot. Real or not real? Why are you here? To watch me
and Katniss fuck? To be my boyfriend? Are you kidding me?"

Peeta slides down on the street, sobbing still and rubs his nose with the dirty
apron. Gale is crying, crying so heavily, that he can't stand it. The sobs are
hurting him, he's never cried like this before. Every breath of air burns, he's
gasping. He knows he has to explain himself to Peeta, but he cannot find the
words. What can he say to his love after all this time? After he has hurt him
like he did. Would it have been better to never come back here? A hot scalding
headache begins to form at the back of his head. Too much crying and Peeta's
punch did that.

He slides down in front of Peeta, putting his arms around him, squeezing him
against him, relieved that Peeta doesn't fight back.

"I'm sorry," he says again, again, and again. He'll never be not sorry. Fuck it
all. It cannot be undone and the guilt is torturing him, coursing, like acid,
through his veins.

"I love you," he whispers into Peeta's ear, and Peeta embraces him back,
holding on for dear life, "I love you so much, it's killing me. More than
anything in this world. These last two years, I never once stopped thinking
about you."

Peeta lays his head on Gale's shoulder, sniffling softly.

They stay like this for a long time. The sounds of the town behind them, only a
lone bird call accompanies their crying, until the sounds grows weaker and it's
just them.

Peeta and Gale, holding each other.

"I killed her," Gale croaks into Peeta's ear, his voice weak, "I killed
Primrose. Took Katniss' sister's life. The girl she would've died for. I didn't
want to rob her of her most important person again. I gave up on you, because
you two...you belong together. There is no other way to be for you. Everyone
could see. There was no place for me at your side."

Peeta shudders, "No..."

"That doesn't excuse the way I acted. I abandoned you in Thirteen. Never went
to see how you're doing. And in Tigris' basement...it was all about Katniss
when we talked. It was like you had forgotten about me. That we had been
together. I was hurt. A brat. I thought I could start over in District 2. It
might seem like I live a good life there, but I never...I never stopped
thinking about you. You've been the last person, the last I... Every night I
think of you, of us. I couldn't, with another.....my mother told me you and
Katniss moved in together. I didn't want to destroy that for you, come between
you. I know that sounds arrogant. But Peeta..."

He leans back, locking eyes with Peeta's. Watching him blink away the tears
that are caught in his long blond eyelashes, "I can only ever be with you. If
you're able to forgive, I'll promise I do everything that I can to make it
worth it. You're not alone. Don't feel bad about your desires. If I'd only
known...Me too, lil'one."

"You too what?" Peeta asks, his voice almost silent.

"Jerked myself off every night, dreaming of you," he whispers, takes his arms
away and Peeta's face in his hands. Leaning in he gives Peeta a warm, almost
shy kiss, different to the one's they exchanged yesterday. He pours love into
that kiss, coaxing Peeta's tongue out gently, exchanging saliva, feeling his
body tremble, shivering and getting warm from deep within. How can one be so in
love? He never thought this feeling was possible, never experiencing it so
clearly before today.

Peeta draws back after a while and spits to the side.

"You're bleeding," he states, looking slightly guilty.

"I can take it," Gale answers, honestly "I deserved that."

"Yeah, you did," teases Peeta, the edge of his mouth twitching. The back of
Gale's hand caresses Peeta's cheek, gently stroking and smiling at him.

"You promised Katniss, no making out though," Peeta grins now, and his voice
gets lower, "Bad, bad Gale."

"Huh," he exclaims, "Well, I don't give a fuck. She has to deal with it. We go
back to the Village, we hold hands, and we do whatever we want. Whatever. We.
Want. You've been hiding long enough."

"Gale, she's not ready," Peeta says his tone back to normal, scrambling up. He
rubs his artificial leg and holds out a hand to Gale, who takes it and moves
himself into a standing position. "This is too much for her."

 "You underestimate her, Peeta. Girls have fantasies too. We just have to coax
them out of her. Maybe give her a little show. Get her in the mood. We talked
about involving her before, now we just have to act like it", Gale sighs. He
waits for a moment, thinking.

"Maybe she would be okay with observing us at first. She's a huntress, watching
her prey - it's familiar to her. She can get used to it, without being in the
midst of us."

"I doubt Katniss' fantasies involve witnessing you taking me from behind while
I lean on the kitchen table," Peeta snorts and Gale raises an eyebrow. Where
did that come from? Sounds more like Peeta's fantasy than Katniss'

"Perhaps she's more interested in you fucking me then," Gale says, "Seeing the
man you love giving it good. From another viewpoint. Sounds hot to me."

"What?" Peeta stares, astonished "You...you...would let me? Take you?"

Gale shrugs, "If you or her want that, why not?"

Peeta looks at him with new admiration in his eyes, making him chuckle, "What
did you think I won't be able to take as good as I'm giving?"

"No, no. I just never imagined that. You wanted to take me, back then," Peeta
wonders, "Real or not real?"

"Real," he says quickly, "Listen, Lil'one about your fantasy. Me taking you,
while you fuck Katniss. That's really hot. But not for her first time."

Peeta blushes darkly, "Oh," he says, "I don't know what came over me,
yesterday. I've been thinking out loud."

"It's exactly what we wanted you to do. Honestly telling us about your
feelings. Katniss can handle it, she proved it. She loved rubbing you. Did she
ever give you a hand job before?"

"No," Peeta shakes his head, "We...never did much. I kind of hurt her once,
during an episode and that was.....what can I say, it...I don't get hard as
easily around her, since then. Just more anxious."

"Mmmmh. Okay, her first time is not going to be much fun. It's possible it's
going to hurt her, the rhythm is off, whatever. It's awkward enough without
having someone watching you."

"I never asked about your first time?" Peeta looks curious, holding out his
hand. He takes it smiling, and they turn to walk back to the Village.

"Not much to tell. Went to the slag heap with a girl called Namy Howers. Fucked
her standing up. She bled all over my underwear, was dry as sandpaper. I didn't
realize it at the time, but when I had sex later it was much easier and
enjoyable, because the girls were actually wet. Namy wasn't, it was her first
time, and I hadn't properly prepared her, didn't even finger her. We both had
no idea what we we're doing, at thirteen. And now she's dead," he groans. Why
does the realization always comes back like a jackhammer? Peeta squeezes his
hand reassuringly.

"Thirteen?" he distracts, "Wow, that's early. That's a decade of experience."

"Don't underestimate the power of enthusiasm, Peeta. That's far more important
than the number of people you've been with," he smiles, "We can be...you can be
gentle with Katniss. Do it in a soft bed. Ease her in. Make it good for her."

"Yeah," Peeta says, "That'll be quite different. And to think I almost took Mia
at the Slag Heap."

"Don't feel bad about that. She's not a bad person, that Mia, but she hadn't
been an innocent maiden for a long time. She knew what she was doing. And so do
I, so let me help you."

The gate of the Victor's Village appears in their line of sight. They stop and
he turns to look into Peeta's eyes, taking both of Peeta's hands in his.

"You still want me to take you?"

"Yeah," Peeta says, a little short of breath.

"Then we have to train you. It's not as easy as taking a pussy. It needs more
preparation or you'll tear. I need your ass to get used to the intrusion, we
need oil, maybe something balmy from the bakery? It makes it easier. It can be
done, and with the right timing and angle, it feels incredible...but...."

"But what?"

He looks down at his feet. Is this selfish? Is this cruel, after all? Will he
hurt her too much with this? She can't stomach the thought of them making out,
but he doesn't know how else this can be accomplished. She was worried about
being left out already. Steeling his heart, he must try at least. For his own
peace of mind.

"Katniss gets her first time with you, like she wants it. I'll sit on the
armchair, watch, do as she says, whatever. Our first time will be different. I
want us to be on our own, in your bedroom. Without Katniss."

"Gale," Peeta groans, "I don't know."

"Can you honestly say you don't need a little private time, too? Where we don't
have to hold back? I think you won't be able to relax with Katniss there, and I
need your muscles relaxed. We tell her what we'll do. She deserves to know, but
I think it's important for us to have something independent of her. We can
involve her at a later point, if you want that. And if she wants it."

Peeta's hands are sweaty, slippery in his own. His eyes show the beginning of a
panic once more. He can't bear to see this look, can't bear to hurt his Peeta
again.

"Or not," he backtracks, beginning to stroke Peeta's knuckles, "It's not an
ultimatum. Don't get me wrong. If you don't agree that's fine, if she doesn't
want to - forget it. I'm just happy to be back with you."

"No...I do want it. I want it so very much, and I agree. We...I think we have
to be patient with her, though. Katniss is not the biggest fan of change."

Gale laughs at that, "That's true. I think she probably won't want me to be
with you guys after you get used to each other. And that's okay. You need to
have a relationship without me interfering all the time."

"So you're okay with us being on our own?" Peeta asks, looking suspicious.

"Of course," Gale says, "What do you think I've been doing these last two
years? As far as I knew you were already making babies."

At the word babies, Peeta shudders.

"You and her are so much more than lovers. Family. I still have mine, which
makes me the luckiest of us. Would I destroy that for you? Never. I told you.
That's why I didn't try to...why I didn't come back."

Peeta nods, "So when do we tell Katniss?"

"Tell me what?"

They both startle at the soft female voice coming from the left. 'The silent
huntress strikes again', Gale thinks. Katniss is standing before the gate, gaze
switching back and forth between them, looking at Gale's swollen jaw and bloody
lip, Peeta's pale face and red-rimmed eyes.

Then her eyes fall on their hands, still interwoven, Gale's thumb gently
stroking Peeta's knuckle.

Her eyes return to fix on Gale, scowling, judging him silently.

"Care to explain this?"
Chapter End Notes
     So me and my mates, the plot bunnies, went to sit down, talking about
     how this would work out.
     ForestFairy: So, they'll finally do it. I have a plan. I have a
     diagram, you know...positions and stuff. It's going to happen!
     Bunnies: Fuck off, bitch. We don't give two shits about your plan. We
     want angst, anger and pain!
     ForestFairy: No need to be that crass, guys. But...no, the readers
     want smut, so do I, and you do too, you're bunnies. That involves
     fucking! That tingling in our pants when a story, finally, gets to
     that point...
     Bunnies: Whatever, ForestChick. We do what we like. Live with it.
     And so they forced me to write this. I have no excuse. But if you
     find it in you to write how you liked this, I'll give you a bunny.
     You can do what you want with it!
     Bunnies: Hey!!!!
     ForestFairy: *smirks*
***** The Eastern Woods *****
Chapter Summary
     Katniss and Gale explore the woods - once more.
Chapter Notes
     Welcome to the eleventh chapter of The Lark's Awakening, called The
     Eastern Woods. Time for another warning. This chapter focuses on and
     heavily features *gasp* Everthorne. You might've noticed, I added
     them as a pairing a few weeks ago. If you don't like the direction
     this is going, you better abort this story now. The threesome is
     coming. Have fun, you lovely people.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Peeta lets go of Gale's hand immediately, guilty - caught. Gale wants to take
it back into his, but knows better.

"Katniss," Peeta starts, "It's not..."

"I'm not talking to you, Peeta," Katniss hisses, her eyes set on Gale, "I'm
talking to Gale. What are you doing?"

"Holding hands," he answers sheepishly, "I'm not sorry, Catnip. I couldn't help
myself."

"And I'm just supposed to accept this, because you're not sorry, and couldn't
help yourself? Did you even listen to what I told you before? Did you, for one
second stop and think about me, or are you just thinking about your own
agenda?" Katniss' face is red, her eyes furious.

"I don't know...it just happened, okay?" he says finally, uncomfortable by now.
How did he think this would turn out?

"It just happened? You have no free will of your own now?" Katniss is looking
as if she's ready to attack him at any moment.

"Why don't we all calm down, okay?" Peeta's voice is harsh, making them both
look at him, "Let's just take a step back and focus on the important things.
Gale touched me, alright Katniss? I needed a hug and he gave it to me."
Katniss looks perplexed, eyes wide at Peeta.

"And Gale, if you really want to stay here with us you have to stop looking at
Katniss as competition. It won't make me like you more."

"What? I'm not doing that!" Gale stares at Peeta. Didn't Peeta just a few
moments ago agree to his plans to meet independent of Katniss? Didn't they
decide to confront her about it, let her deal with it?

"I'm telling you that I want us to talk, all three of us. Katniss made dinner
so we'll go over to her house, eat and then we'll talk. No discussion," Peeta's
voice is strict, like he is talking to a bunch of naughty school kids, "We're
adults, so we're going to act like it. Alright?"

"Alright," Katniss agrees immediately and Gale can only follow with a weak, "If
you say so."

Peeta turns around and leads the way to Katniss' house. Katniss gives Gale
another death glare but hurries after Peeta, stepping beside him. Gale wonders
if she'll touch his hand. Her eyes definitely have a possessive gleam in them,
he has never really noticed before. She's jealous, he knows. He never meant to
make her feel that way but supposes it's only natural. What makes him more
confused is Peeta's sudden change of mood. Or did he misinterpret what Peeta
really meant earlier? Did he agree, or was he just caught in the moment? He
moves to catch up with them, refusing to worry about it all. He has a feeling
that Peeta will tell him tonight, once and for all, what is going to happen.
And he sure as hell will argue his case.
===============================================================================


Dinner tastes delicious, and he tells Katniss so. Eyeing him suspiciously she
thanks him politely, but her voice remains cold. He hurt her earlier, but he
can't bring himself to care that much. He just cannot mind Katniss' feelings
every second or he'll never relax. He offers to clean the dishes and they leave
him to it, while Peeta serves the rest of the fruit cake with fresh peppermint
tea in the sitting room. He can hear them talk in hushed tones over there and
he is almost tempted to eavesdrop, but Peeta just told them to stop acting so
childish and he can't breach their trust like that. That they let him finish
the dishes gives him hope. You don't do that to people you only consider
guests, right?

When he enters the sitting room, he clenches his fist. Katniss has finished her
peppermint tea and her head leans against Peeta's shoulder, lips against his
earlobe. His hand is resting on her thigh, shortly before her knee. He coughs,
making them look up at him.

"Woah, you're quiet," Peeta looks impressed.

"I knew he was here," Katniss smirks at Gale. Well, that's not really a cease
fire, is it?

"Well done, Catnip," he grumbles, "Knowing I was in the house certainly helped,
right?"

"Gale," Peeta groans. Gale almost answers 'But she started it' , then holds it
back in the last minute. Peeta is right. He has to arrange himself with Katniss
somehow, and being mean won't help him. He falls into the armchair opposite to
them.

"So now what?" he asks Peeta. "Do you have a plan? A timed schedule, for the
big event?"

Katniss blushes heavily, but there is also a look of sadness and desperation in
her eyes. He suddenly feels like the biggest asshole in the world. Why is he
acting like this? The one who hurts most is definitely her, not him.

"As a matter of fact, yeah, I do have a plan," Peeta glares at Gale, "Are you
interested in hearing it or do you want to continue to act like that?"

"No...I mean, yeah, I'm interested," Gale answers.

"Me too," Katniss voice is small. 'She's making every effort, and you act like
a big brute,' Gale thinks to himself.

"You asked me yesterday, what I want," Peeta starts, "What I want and what I
realistically can get are different things, though. While you lived your life
in District 2, our lives went on without you. We had our ups and downs, and you
know it wasn't easy for us. It still isn't. The hijacking and the...things they
did to me in the Capitol make it hard for me to be intimate with Katniss. Also
the experience of being with you Gale, makes me a bit more...forward than I'd
like."

"Forward?" Gale repeats. Wasn't Katniss problem that Peeta wasn't forward
enough? That he stopped trying to be with her?

"Yes," Peeta says, "Katniss' idea that you watch us for our first time isn't
bad. I would like that, too, if you're willing to do that."

Gale shrugs it off, "I already said I would."

"Yeah," Peeta chuckles darkly, "But you came here and brought some conditions
of your own. And well, it's not as easy as you might think it is."

"Okay," Gale repeats, not really listening. It is easy, and Peeta knows it. "So
what's your plan now?" He notices that Peeta grabs Katniss' hand hard. She is
biting on her lips, but not letting go either.

"Ideally," Peeta continues, "I would like the three of us form a relationship.
Like a normal couple. Just with three people, instead of two, with each of us
as an equal partner. But...I doubt, it will work. At least as we are now, I'm
positive it won't. And I'm not willing to force it."

Gale can make out a lonely tear on Katniss' face and feels himself shivering in
the warm and cozy room. What is that supposed to mean?

"I cannot make you leave, Gale," Peeta continues, "If you decide you want to
live your life here in District 12, you have every right to it. I'm not telling
you what to do, I'm not giving you an ultimatum either. But I must tell you
this: I'm not willing to risk my relationship with Katniss. If she says she
doesn't want us together like that, it is not going to happen. She is the most
important. Katniss comes first. I'm sorry."

"So, you're breaking up, before we even tried?" Gale whispers, shocked. Peeta
likes him, loves him. It is there in his eyes, his touch. He can't just let it
go.

"All I'm saying is that I won't do it, if Katniss doesn't want it," Peeta
repeats.

Katniss lets go of Peeta's hand and stares at the table, "And with that, you
just hand over the responsibility to me. If I say you cannot be with Gale, I'll
be resented sooner or later. I know how much you missed him and desire him. No
matter what, I'm going to be at fault. You're taking the easy way out, Peeta."

"There is no easy way out," Peeta says gently, "You're right, I'm letting you
decide. And I have another favor to ask."

"What?" Katniss looks at Peeta, deeply through misty grey.

"I want you two, you and Gale to spend more time together. Alone, without me. A
week in the woods, maybe?  Go hunting, swimming, whatever you like to do out
there. You missed Gale. Missed having a hunting partner, your best friend. I
told you repeatedly that he had feelings for you. I want you to do this, to see
if the spark is still there. That is my condition. If we're starting a three
way relationship, you two need to work together independent of me. You can do
whatever you feel like in this week. Don't think of me as a factor, try to
forget that I exist. And if you think you two can be friends somehow, come back
and we'll try to make it work. That's what I want."

Katniss is crying again, "Do you realize how much pressure you put on me with
that?"
She shakes her head.

"Peeta," Gale says, "That sounds nice in theory, but I don't know..."

"Well, then you can pack your things and leave this house right away, Gale,"
Peeta responds harshly, "It is your choice. You guys don't get why I am doing
this. You told me earlier, that you want me to be happy. Were those empty words
after all? I don't think this is too much to ask. If you come back after that
week and say you still cannot do it, okay. Failed experiment. You go back to
your life, stay here in District 12, do whatever you think you need to do and
I'll try my hardest to make Katniss happy, without you in the picture. I'm not
some willingless tool. I can control myself. I am still in therapy, still
working on getting better, improving, facing my desires and our past. I do want
to be with you, but it won't kill me, if it won't happen. Just like it won't
kill you. What would kill me is losing Katniss. She's the one I'm not willing
to let go. This is not what you both want to hear, but well, you came here and
pressured me to be honest and now I am and you don't like it. What else am I
supposed to do?"

Gale's heart skipped several beats after that speech. He's not sure he expected
Peeta to be that blunt. To dismiss him that easily. But didn't he know, didn't
he understand all of Peeta's arguments before? That Peeta loved Katniss more
than him? More than anything left in this world? Wasn't that why he stayed
away? Why he never came back?

"I'm..okay...I'm going, with Katniss. But..don't worry...if it's not going to
work out, I'll leave the District. Go back to my old life. I wouldn't be able
to stay here." No, he couldn't. He wouldn't stay.

Peeta looks a bit hurt, but that might be his imagination. "It's your choice,"
he says, turns his head and then, much more gently asks, "Katniss?"

"I don't like it. He killed my sister," she presses out, a tear running down
her face, "I can't believe you're asking this of me."

Peeta pales and Gale feels like a ton of bricks are being dropped in his
stomach.

Peeta shakes his head. "I'm sorry," he pauses, "You don't have to go. I'm not
forcing you. I'm sorry, I asked."

Gale can't believe it. Peeta is trying so hard and she just dismisses it so
easily, she won't even try.

"Catnip," he addresses her, "Look at me."

She stubbornly raises her chin at him, her eyes red-rimmed.

"Let's leave all that threesome business aside for a second. Let's not think
about Peeta for the moment. Don't you think we could give it a try anyway? Talk
it out for own sakes? If you say you'll never want to see me again afterwards,
I'll accept it. I'll leave here, no hard feelings. I can't deny it'll be damn
tough, but I'll do it. Let's just try, okay?" He wants to add, for her, for
Prim, but remembers that she forbid him to say her name, and it seems wrong to
bring Prim into the argument anyway. But for his own state of mind, he hopes
she'll try. Try to see his side and try to talk it out.

Katniss doesn't look convinced. She has stopped crying, but her back is stiff.
She is sitting so close to Peeta, she might be on his lap. Looks uncomfortable
anyway. There is a long silence. They both wait.

After a while Katniss begins to talk, "I want to talk to you. Alone....and
then...and...we'll go into the woods tomorrow," she looks at Peeta when she
says it, "Gale and me."

Peeta breathes out deeply, "Thank you," he says, "I love you."

She nods and stands up. Demonstratively holds out her hand to Peeta.

"Good night, Gale," she says without a glance in his direction. Peeta looks
back at Gale, nods, and then they both disappear to the upstairs bedroom.
Leaving Gale with cold Peppermint tea, old fruitcake and a lot to think about.
===============================================================================


Peeta is in his room. He can feel him, almost taste him. What he would give to
have Peeta crawl into bed and cuddle a bit, before he has to go and spend a
week with a grumpy Katniss, who wishes to be anywhere other than in the woods
with him.

"What is it, lil'one?" he asks. It is very early in the day, still dark
outside. Peeta is in his work attire, ready to go.

"I packed you guys food that will last you weeks, if need be," Peeta says
hesitantly, "I put it in the backpack, leaning against the kitchen cupboard.
Katniss is in charge of other necessities."

"Okay," Gale whispers, still wanting to sleep a bit longer, "Won't you come
here?"

"I shouldn't," Peeta says. He lingers in the doorway.

"Well, then say what you need to say and let me sleep," Gale groans. He never
liked getting up in the middle of the night.

He feels the mattress give way. Peeta sits next to him, not saying a word.

"So, you don't want me," he says, eyes closed. He feels Peeta wince.

"You're not listening. I never said that."

"Hmm," he cuddles the pillow, "Did seem that way."

"Come on, Gale," Peeta starts, "Don't be mad. It's the only way. Katniss and I,
we had a long talk yesterday. Whatever happens in the woods, please try not to
make it about me, or us. Make it about you and her. Don't hold back, okay?"

"Hold back?" Gale doesn't even know what that is supposed to mean. How can one
hold back in terms of friendship? Or does Peeta mean more?

"Don't hold yourself back to spare my feelings. Show your real self to Katniss.
Be as honest as you can, as honest as you've been with me. That's all I ask,"
Peeta stands up again.

Gale raises an eyebrow. Is that an invitation to woo Katniss? Does Peeta really
want that? Or is he misinterpreting the boy's words again?

"One last kiss before I go?" he asks, because he fears it'll really be the last
time. He cannot see how Katniss will change her mind, just because they hang
out in the woods for a week.

"No," Peeta shakes his head, "I can't."

He leans down anyway and presses a fleeting kiss on Gale's sleep tussled locks
anyway.

"Be safe."

And then he is gone.

Gale groans. It's going to be a long day.
===============================================================================


After getting dressed, he goes to the kitchen where Peeta made them breakfast.
There is a big backpack leaning against one of the cupboards, supposedly the
one with food. Realistically they can hunt and won't really need it, but he is
not sure if he wants to eat meat and berries for a whole week.

The house lies silent and he wonders when Katniss will get up. Peeta and her
talked last night. And maybe did other things as well. He's seen her possessive
streak. He knows he has no right, but he is jealous of her. Jealous that she
gets all the attention, jealous that Peeta follows her wishes, and jealous that
she is the one in his bed, no matter what they do in there. He is not even
allowed cuddling. He's not to keen on facing the reality. His vacation is
supposed to last two weeks. If he really is to stay here, he has to call Paylor
and quit. Soon. Maybe even today, before they leave. He was so quick to say he
would move here, but never really thought about the implications. If Katniss
says no to the arrangement, why should he stay? Only to see them every day,
holding hands, with her smirking at him? Peeta cannot expect that.

Katniss stands before him, dressed in her usual hunting attire. Her bow and
arrow on her back, another bag slung over her shoulder.

"Ready?" she asks, without looking at him, "Got everything you need?"

He nods. He packed a few spare clothes earlier. Standing up he takes the
backpack and follows her into the unknown.
===============================================================================


Katniss takes the lead. They leave the Victor's Village through the back,
wander the small path to the Meadow and enter the woods at the edge of the
former fence. She stops for a second, breathes in deeply and stares into the
distance at some trees. Gale looks at her neck. There is a little drop of
sweat, just below her hairline. It's obvious that she's more nervous than she's
letting on. He doesn't say a word. It just feels like talking is never their
thing. Without Peeta to lead the conversation he's not even sure they will
mutter more than two words to each other. Katniss moves to the right, a
direction they hardly ventured in when they explored the woods. Since they had
to be back in the District sooner or later, the circle around the fence they
frequented is not that wide. He follows.

After four hours of walking, he is quite sure he hasn't seen these parts of the
woods before. Katniss stops at some tree trunk and turns around.

"I need the backpack," she says, and her voice feels alien, after such a long
silence.

He takes it off his back. He's been sweating heavily, for more reasons than
simple exhaustion. Handing it over, she opens it and searches for something
inside. Then she hands him another piece of the old fruitcake. It is petty, and
he suspects that it wasn't Peeta that packed it, but her. But then she takes
another piece for herself munching on it quietly. It hardly stills their
hunger, but they are used to worse. Katniss seems to want to go on as quickly
as possible.

And walk they do. They hike along a small river for a while, filling up their
water supplies. Katniss crosses it half a mile later and he has trouble keeping
up. She obviously knows where she is going and he only can follow, her pace or
fall behind. They walk and walk and walk. He has time to think, alone with her,
the woods. The thought that it isn't the best idea to be that far from the
District crosses his mind. What if something happens? What if there is an
accident? He has a communicuff, but isn't sure if it works in such a remote
area. Either way, he never questions her. It seems to be that this whole trip
has to be on her terms.

Hours later, he is as hungry as a mountain lion. His stomach has been grumbling
for a while, and she surely did notice, but keeps wandering. Dusk is upon them,
and he wonders if she will walk through the night when Katniss abruptly turns
left. There is a little hill, she circles around and he can just make out a
small rock formation to his right. It looks unnatural. Human made. Just as he
is about to ask, he makes out the outlines of a lake through the trees. They
climb down and where the earth gets a bit sandier, there stand the ruins of
several buildings.

Looking around in wonder, he sees Katniss settling down in the nearest
building-like structure. There is a fire place inside, but the walls have
fallen in, and the roof is long gone.

"That's amazing Catnip," he whispers, following, "When did you find this?"

"Shortly after I came back to the District," she says, preparing a small fire,
kneeling on one of the two blankets she got out of her bag. "I...spent a lot of
time exploring. There is another old settling about thirty miles north from
Twelve. It's in worse condition than this here. I found a few ruined villages
from before the dark days. I didn't think we would make it out here in one day,
but well..."

He looks at her.

"You're fast. Move swiftly. Now I know, it is possible," she states.

Peeta had told him that Katniss needed space. That she disappeared for days or
sometimes even weeks. To who knows where.

"Have you been mapping out the area?" he asks curiously, "Maybe we could ask
for a Hovercraft to help."

She looks at him as if he has grown a second head, "I'm not allowed to leave
District 12," she states coldly.

He bites his lip, "Oh come on. They surely won't mind a flight in a Hovercraft
over the area."

"I wouldn't know," she stares at the fire, and her voice becomes distant, "I'm
not the one who has connections to the government. It doesn't matter, as I
don't want to be in a Hovercraft. You're the one who enjoyed that. Not me."

He isn't sure how to answer that. It might've been a stupid thing to say, she
is right about that. He wonders why she never took Peeta on her trips, but
refrains from mentioning him. Yawning, he takes out his sleeping bag. Katniss
heats a can of soup over the fire and they share it with some bread from the
bakery.

He lies down, silent, and watches the night sky above. The first day is over
already and he cannot see how they are going to see eye to eye. How they are
ever going to speak about their true feelings. Just when he is getting
comfortable with her, he says something hurtful. Sighing he turns around,
falling asleep.
===============================================================================


He wakes to the sound of Mockingjays. Or is he still dreaming?

Katniss is in his line of vision, unpacking the provisions backpack. She is
giggling a bit, making him smile.

"What's up?" he asks gently, "I wanna laugh, too."

She looks at him and then back at the provisions. "Oh, it's just...Peeta packed
so much food. And some of it...look here, two berry tartlets. It's going to get
stale. He really has no idea."

He props himself up, looking at the tartlets.

"And look at all these wrappings and boxes. We'll have to take this stuff back
to Twelve," Katniss groans, "I'm sorry you had to carry that."

"No worries," he answers, grinning, "You won't get the Town out of Peeta, it
looks like."

Katniss laughs at that. "True. But look, nothing is crumpled. He knows what
he's doing."

"Yeah," he says, getting up. Peeta knows what he is doing. He knows Katniss
better than Gale does. He knows Gale better than Katniss does. And he knows
that there is something there, between the two of them. A connection. Katniss
smiles brightly when she hands him one of the berry tartlets. Maybe this wasn't
such a bad idea after all.
===============================================================================


The woods, being outdoors and the nature change Katniss' attitude. They decide
to place some snares in the area, and eat most of the perishable food that day.
It's going to get stale soon, they have no way to cool it and the temperature
is high. They don't talk much, but explore the area and the abundance of
animals is mind-blowing.

"We can dry some fish and bring them back, what do you think?" she asks that
evening.

"There is more food in this area that we can realistically eat, so yeah. We'll
roll back into Twelve, at the end of the week," he grins.

"Speak for yourself," she answers. "I'm going for a swim tomorrow. It's not me
who has a comfortable desk job. Look at your belly. It's getting bigger than
Peeta's."

"Catnip," he says warningly, "Watch what you're saying. I'm not sitting at the
desk all day. I do field missions. And I go to the gym."

The smile leaves her face at his mentioning of field missions. He curses
himself. She was almost flirting with him, almost admitted she looked at his
abs. And he has to talk about field missions, of all things.

"I'm sorry," he says quickly, "I didn't mean..."

"Do you regret it?" she interrupts and he doesn't have to ask what she means
with that.

"There isn't a second in my life that I don't. I think about it all the time.
This guilt...it's been eating away at me. It's...why I work for the government.
I want to be involved. The bombs, they had been my and Beetee's plan, but I
never stopped to think...it was all so vague. I never grasped that those who
died, were people, real humans, because I didn't know them. Or I didn't want to
see. Now I want to know. I want to make sure something like this won't happen
again. I have been immature. I'd like to think I changed, but sometimes I'm not
sure I did."

Katniss doesn't answer.

"The way I've been treating you...not following your wishes with Peeta,
it...was unfair. And here I am screwing up, time and time again, and I just
don't know how to stop it," he finishes. "I'm making it all about me, again.
I'm a bastard."

He takes a deep breath.

"I will leave District 12. Go back to my life. I had no right to come here. But
you called....I was so happy, and yeah, I did believe we could be something
again. I never really thought it through. And then I was caught up in the
euphoria of being back. I don't know..."

"I cannot help you," she says after a while. "I cannot give you absolution or
whatever you need to get better. It just won't work. Have you...I mean, did you
ever think you might benefit from therapy? I think you would. It does seem that
you barely talk about these things, and I'm definitely not the right person for
that."

He shakes his head. He never thought about this.

"You also lost your father...and you say you want to change, but are not sure
how. Therapy helped me. It helped me and Peeta, believe it or not. I think no
matter if you leave or stay, it would be good for you."

"I'll think about it," he says and he means it. She is right. A professional
might be exactly what he needs. What they need.

"Did you talk to Dr. Aurelius, about the three of us?" he asks after a while.
Is the doctor perhaps to blame for Katniss idea to have him watch?

She shakes her head. "No. That...was not something we talked about. Well, maybe
it was. It seems like Dr. Aurelius' knew about you and Peeta. He doesn't tell
me about Peeta's sessions."

He just nods.

They settle down to sleep when Katniss speaks up again, against the glowing
embers.

"You didn't pursue Peeta after the rebellion because of me."

It's a statement rather than a question. They had talked about it when he first
came back, but he nods.

"And you wouldn't have returned here, if I hadn't asked you to."

"No," he simply says. "I wouldn't have."

He waits for more, but there is nothing coming from her side of the fire. They
fall asleep.
===============================================================================


The next day they spend swimming. She has a bathing suit from the Capitol and
appears wearing it at breakfast already.

"Do you have swimming trunks, or something?" she asks, not meeting his eye. He
can't help but notice her body in the suit. It's toned, beautiful. She looks
like a goddess with a topknot.

"No," he answers. He didn't bring any. He would go in naked, but that seems too
forward and he already notices her discomfort.

"I'm going in my underwear," he says and she nods.

She is a better swimmer than him by far. She cuts through the cool liquid like
a dolphin. The lake is not that big, they circled it on foot in twenty minutes.
After almost an hour of swimming on her side and more splashing on his, he
returns to the shore, into the cool shade of one of the buildings. He leans
back against the rock, content with watching. Searching his bag for some
cigarettes he finds something else. He didn't even remember he had this. It's
not morphling, not genetically altered stuff. It's some sort of plant that
helps him relax, when he smokes it. A co-worker gave it to him when he
complained about insomnia a few weeks ago. Would he dare? He looks at Katniss
out there. It's a medicine, in a way. Perhaps even her mother would approve.
She might need something to relax, too.

He rolls two cigarettes and lights one of them. It's effecting him quickly, as
he feels the world calm down. Everything is peaceful and nice. The sun is
shining, but it's not too hot. He looks down at his underwear. The white pants
have become transparent. Every inch, every curl -  it's visible.

"What are you doing?" Katniss stands a few feet away, sun at her back, drops of
water on her skin. She's a vision alright.

"Smoking Catnip," he grins at her. "You?"

"Wouldn't you rather eat something? Smoking is bad for your health." Her cheeks
look healthy, flushing pink.

"Haven't we eaten enough?" he groans. It's true. They had like seven cheese
buns this morning. That they weren't fresh wasn't the problem, but he has
enough of all that rich bakery food. He waves her over.  "Come here."

She comes closer hesitantly, her eyes concentrating on the top of his head.

"Ever smoked a cigarette, Catnip?" he inquires.

"Why would I spend my money on cigarettes?" she counters back. "They are not
good for you."

She leans against the wall.
"I got drunk once," she suddenly admits, as if she's confessing some grave
error, "With Haymitch. It wasn't so bad....until I woke up the next morning.
The pain was back and when I asked Haymitch what he does, he just said to never
let it get that far. To keep drinking. I lost every desire to do it again,
right then."

"That's understandable," he says. "You're strong. You won't become an addict
from one little smoke though. This is something else. It'll help you relax."

"Are you trying to drug me?" she asks lightly.

"What would that accomplish? Listen, you don't have to do anything you don't
want," he answers, holding up his hands in peaceful gesture. He takes another
drag.

"Yeah," she retorts, "It's always my choice isn't it? You don't have to go to
therapy, if you don't want. You don't have to sleep in my house, if it makes
you uncomfortable, you don't have to lift a finger, if you don't feel like it.
And you certainly don't have to go with Gale, no hard feelings. Just do what
you want."

He stares at her. What is she talking about?

"Okay, I'll smoke," she states, holding out her hand. "Light up."

The first drag makes her cough. He is wise enough, to not say a word. The rest
they smoke in silence, watching the lake in the early afternoon sun. He hasn't
felt that good in years. Can life get any better?

He looks over at Katniss and finds her staring at him. Well, not at him, at his
crotch. She is openly staring, no signs of a blush.

"You're dry again."

"Mmh," he answers slowly.

"It doesn't look like...that morning," she says, "I cannot see."

He is still, completely still. He waits for a while. Her nipples press against
the bathing suit. It is not exactly cold out here.

"I want to see," she whispers.

"I'll get hard," he warns, feeling the tingle already.

"I want to see," she repeats, still staring. He pulls down his underwear, and
there he is. Buck naked. He's not embarrassed and she is neither. His cock
rises and rises, until he can't stand it.

"Catnip," he groans, "I need to..."

He doesn't wait for an answer, for permission, for any signal of acceptance. He
grabs himself and begins to rub. Even in this hazy state of mind, he feels the
roughness of his hand. It's a bit uncomfortable to do it like this, dry. A
whimper next to him, makes him look at her. She's so beautiful. In her tight
little bathing suit. Her thighs pressed together, her hands clenching into
fists, she slowly rocks her pelvis forward into the air, into nothing. He
closes his eyes and fists the mud at his side, groaning, moaning, losing it.
It's been so long, so fucking long and he is here, with her in the woods and it
is perfect and he lets go. Moans into the open, comes heavily, deeply and
spurts cum all over his stomach.

Katniss is next to him, close to him and her lips are at his nose, whimpering.

"Can I?"

He's not sure what she's asking, but he nods, and suddenly her fingers are
there, playing with his jizz, massaging it into his abs, and he almost can't
believe what is happening.

"It was a lie," she laughs into his ear, "You don't have a belly."
She spreads out his remains in his black pubic curls, a carefree twinkle in her
eyes. The sticky beady drops sparkle in the sun, while Katniss plays with them,
seems fascinated, no signs of disgust on her face. "You're beautiful."

He blushes, blushes hard. He doesn't deserve her love. And she is really
trying. What have they done?

"I'm sorry," he whispers, "That smoke...that was a bad idea. I didn't want
to...manipulate you...ugh...just make you relaxed."

"Don't worry," she says, "If we're going to be together, we might as well get
comfortable. I have been thinking about your cock," she giggles at the word,
"Since I got here."

"What?" he looks on in disbelief, feeling himself grow hard again.

"Wanting to compare," she giggles more, "You and Peeta. Peeta did it for me,
before."

"Ah," he moans, barely comprehending what she is saying. "When? Where? How?"

"It's a secret," she whispers, her palms dangerously close, "You both are
beautiful. Did you think of him, while you did it?"

"No," he answers honestly. "No. I thought of you. You're the last girl I
kissed, Catnip. The last I..."

Katniss voice is wondrous, "Really?"

"I couldn't go to another. I never wanted another again. Only you. You and
Peeta. They hurt so much, these years without you. Please."

He doesn't know what he's begging her for. She surely won't give him a handjob,
but he's fucking hard again and the urge to have her hands on his cock is
unbelievable. He doesn't dare to ask. This is not something they should do
together. Haven't they gone too far already? Peeta said not to hold back. What
did that mean? He cannot want them to go further than this, without being
there, can he?

Reaching out for her hand, she lets him hold it. He can feel his squishy wet
remains between her fingers. This is so surreal. His senses are heightened, her
sweet smell is surrounding him, everything is intensified. The opportunity
might never come again. He groans.

"Catnip, would you like to be with both of us?" he whispers.

"What?"

"We can make you feel good. Me and Peeta," he explains, "Both him and me, we
can love you until you reach new heights, I promise. And if you want, we can
take care of Peeta together. I can show you how to make him squirm. How to get
him lose control. We can make him feel bliss like he never knew possible."

"Hmm," she whispers, "Sounds nice. Won't you do it again, Gale? For me?"

He puts his free hand on his cock once more, "Anything for you. Anything."
===============================================================================


He hasn't masturbated like that in years. He does it so many times in the next
hours, that his penis starts to hurt. Katniss doesn't touch herself. She
squeezes her thighs together and licks her lips, but never does he actually see
her hand seek herself out, under the swimsuit. He keeps his eyes elsewhere, not
wanting to leer at her, scare her. They go back to swim for some time, but he
makes sure they do not to go into deep. They slowly leave their high and rest
in the sun. She asks him to do it for her one last time and then excuses
herself to go hunting. He wants to go with, but she shakes her head. The sun is
setting when she returns with two rabbits from her snares.

"No luck with the bow," she tells him, but her quiver is almost full. She is
blushing now, and he knows the high is gone completely by the way she cannot
meet his gaze. He is wearing fresh clothes, leaving his old ones to dry on the
rocks, after washing them in the lake. He tries to talk to her, tries to find
out what she is feeling, if there are any regrets now, but Katniss shuts down.
Where do they stand? He knew before that there was desire, a sexual connection
between them. But is that enough? Enough to overcome the pain of the past and
her hatred of him? He doubts it is, as she almost ignores him the entire
following day. She is so different to Peeta, he doesn't know what to do. He is
not as clever, so how to coax her out of this? He's not a talker. He doesn't
have any arguments. The week is flying by and he begins to regret the day they
smoked together. If Katniss cannot bring herself to relax around him when there
aren't any drugs involved, there is no hope left.

They decide to hunt elk, the day before the week is up. There have been elk
prints in the woods around them, and they've heard their calls at dawn, each
morning. They rise with the sun, but when they are gone from the lake about
forty minutes later, thunder can be heard in the distance.

He gives Katniss a look, "Turn back?"

"What are you? Made of sugar?" she shakes her head, "A little rain never kept
me from bringing food to the table." He shrugs, following her deeper into the
woods. They have been more than lucky with that heat weave, this last week. The
temperature is dropping now, rapidly, and he actually doesn't want to be caught
in a thunderstorm. The surrounding woods provide shelter, but not like a roof
over their heads. Twenty minutes later it starts to hail. Hailstones, the size
of lizard eggs, bombard them and Katniss finally agrees that it is best that
they forget the elk and return. They begin to run when he sees Katniss slip on
a hailstone. She falls in slow motion, grunting. It looked painful, but she
shakes her head when he offers a hand. She stands up and they walk quickly now,
but after a while it is obvious that Katniss is in trouble. She is pale around
her nose and limping.

"Give me your bow and arrows," he says to her and she complies without
resistance. He puts on her quiver and before she can so much as protest lifts
her up in his arms.

"What? Let me down, Gale," she whimpers, but there is no real conviction behind
it.

"I'll carry you home," he says and she just nods, resigning herself to fate.
===============================================================================


What seemed like a nice thing to do earlier, is slowly becoming an agonizing
task. The hail doesn't give and Katniss, though frail as bird, is heavy
including all her hunting equipment. He can not even enjoy her being so close
to him, her breath against his neck, her tits against his chest. She is
gripping his shoulders, rivulets of sweat running down his back.

"Why don't we rest until the hail lets up?" She whispers into his ear, but he
shakes his head. If they stop now, he's not sure he'll get up again. It can't
be that far now.
===============================================================================


It is far. They arrive at the ruins hours later and Gale nearly collapses after
sitting Katniss gently on her blanket. It is wet, the makeshift canvas they
stretched over their belongings long gone. It stopped hailing, but everything
is wet. He's worried, searching for his first aid kit in his backpack. Katniss
watches him silently. He takes off her shoes and he checks her ankle. It looks
swollen, but it seems like nothing is broken. He sighs out in relief and puts a
cooling spray on the area before bandaging her up.

"Do you want me to get you something? I think there are a few crackers left,
that were in a tin," he rummages through their provisions, "Fuck, everything is
soaked. Stupid hail."

"Relax, Gale," her voice is soothing, "Won't you rest a bit? I'm okay, really."

He shakes his head. She is hurting and now it's going to be one hell of a task
to even get a fire running. He is a survival expert and not thinking of
something like this happening makes him angry.

"Gale," she says gently, "It's only our last day here. It's okay."

"No, it's not," he groans "You'll get sick. See? Your teeth are chattering
already. I'm so stupid."

He stalks off to the nearby woods, searching for dry wood. There has to be some
area that was more sheltered. He finds a small cave-like structure a few
hundred feet to the south. It's only small enough for rabbits and the like, but
there are twigs inside, and they are as dry as sandpaper. He carries them back
to Katniss and they start a fire, while he goes searching for more.

It's evening before the canvas is dry and he tries to stretch it out again, but
it comes down immediately.

"Let's just sleep under the stars tonight," Katniss offers. He's in a bad mood
and just grunts. He didn't imagine their last day here like this. He wanted it
to be a positive experience, something he would look back at fondly. Them
hunting, having fun, eating. It somehow irks him that it all went awry.

He tries to sleep, but it is hard when everything is wet. The fire went out
long ago, and he begins to freeze. Somewhere to his left Katniss sneezes. Then
nothing.
He must fall asleep somehow, because when he wakes again, Katniss is in his
arms, back against his front. His body, freezing just earlier is now lulled in
her warm sweetness. Katniss hasn't showered in a week, like he did. They only
washed themselves in the lake in the morning. But still. She smells so nice.
It's a warm, female scent and he can't help, but wrap his arms around her,
squeezing her tighter against him.

"Why did you fall in love with Peeta?"

She knows he's awake. Her voice is small. There is serious curiosity in it. She
really wants to know.

"That's a hard question to answer," he whispers into her ear, "Why do people
fall in love? I don't know. It just happened."

"And why did you fall out of love with me?"

He swallows. Katniss seemingly wants to adress the serious issues, too, before
they head back.

"I didn't. I'm still in love with you."

"You said otherwise."

"I know," he smiles against her ear, "I lied."

He feels himself reacting to her proximity and curses himself. It's not good,
to be that close, when they talk seriously.

"Peeta told me why."

He waits, but no further information comes.

"Told you why?"

"Why he fell in love with you. And I think it's a good reason. It's the reason
why...." she stops and swallows, "Why I'll try to make this work. Us work."

Her teeth chatter.

"What is it?" he asks, hating how his voice seems to run away with him. He
coughs lightly.

"You took care of him," she simply answers into the night, adding "When nobody
else did."

"Oh," he says back, feeling guilty immediately. That's not really true, is it?
That was only his own desires...and later he abandoned Peeta.

"You always took good care of people. You do have a good heart, Gale. I know
this. That's why I trusted you with their lives when I left for the Hunger
Games. You wouldn't have let them starve. And just yesterday, I saw that you
are still that person. There is a part of you that is dark, vengeful and cold.
But you gave Peeta love. You made him fight to return to me. And, in my book,
that's definitely worth something."

He wants to protest. It's not to his credit that Peeta returned to Katniss.

"And what about you?" he shivers. If they don't talk about this part of their
relationship it is going to backfire, "Didn't you come here, invited me and all
to please Peeta? Where is your motivation? I'd hate it if you forced yourself
into this. It might even scare you away when you...well, you see me and Peeta
together."

Katniss shudders in response, "No, I don't think so."

"How can you be sure?"

She grabs his hand and moves it in front of her. Into her jeans, and lower into
her panties. Gale gasps. Katniss is curly, and hot and...slick. She's slick
with desire. His cock almost does a happy jump.

"Oh, come on," she whispers, "Now you're acting all shy? After all we did this
week."

His hand still resting on her pussy, he is speechless for once.

"Well, I did things. You just watched and barely raised an eyebrow, Catnip," he
chuckles against her head finally.

"It just isn't that obvious for me, Mr. Slag Heap," she says, a little out of
breath, "I thought you were the expert on girls. Or should I say, the expert on
me? Peeta told me you liked to fantasize about me. So, now, let's fantasize
about Peeta."

Oh gosh, they did talk about it. About them.

"Tell me how...he likes it. Tell me what makes him lose control, tell me all
about it. And while you're at it....take care of me, like you took care of him,
okay?"

He's sure she is blushing heavily, but he can't see. He's so impressed with her
courage, never expecting her to come forward like this - he nearly comes on the
spot. What has he done to impress her like this tonight? He sure as hell wasn't
trying to please her, was even more grumpy than usual.

Well, she probably chose exactly this position because he cannot look into her
eyes. But one thing he can do. Talk dirty to her, and finger her heavenly sweet
slit, the way she deserves.

"I will," he says, voice low, "Take care of my little Catnip."

Katniss moans and leans herself back against his chest. The hand that is not
occupied taking care of her velvety folds, finds her right tit and begins to
squeeze it gently.

There will be no more teeth chattering tonight.
===============================================================================


Katniss is an inexperienced woman. He can tell by her clumsy movements, that
she likes what he does, but he is almost positive she has no idea what an
orgasm feels like. She does not have one that night, but she moans, and groans
and presses her tight little ass against his cock. It's so hot, it almost
drives him crazy. He cannot remember the last time he had a girl in his arms.
Never had one he loved anyway. Katniss reacts so honestly, her sweet voice
distracting him, because he enjoys listening so much. He tries his best with
the description of Peeta's eyes, hands, ass and cock, makes her shudder and
when his language gets even dirtier he goes on and on about fucking and sucking
and all the things they loved to do. He describes giving Peeta a nice slow blow
job and Katniss whimpers. And when he tells her how Peeta would eat her out,
she humps against his hands as if there is no tomorrow.

They calm down after a while and even his erection goes away, without him
having an accident in his pants.

"I can't wait until we're back in Twelve," she says, "Can't wait until Peeta
joins this. Us."

He waits for a second, but finally asks, afraid of her reaction.

"Can I kiss you?" he presses out, under his breath. She flinches. "Not
allowed?" he asks gently.

"What do you mean?" she asks into the night.

"What did Peeta say to you, that last evening before we came here? Did he...did
he make you promise something?"

"Why? I'm making my own decisions. It is like you told me before. I'm not a
slave to my hormones, Gale. I can control myself."

"I didn't mean...I didn't think we would go farther...I mean, what we actually
did tonight was more than I dreamed of. But did he...not tell you about
boundaries or so? I mean, you haven't looked at me the whole evening. You
probably know all the veins on my cock by name, and I can't even kiss you. It
just feels...unfair."

She wiggles around until they are chest to chest.

"You smell sweaty," she states and he smiles.

 "Sorry, I carried a Mockingjay through the woods, earlier."

"Your veins have names?" she looks at him through these grey eyes he can barely
make out in the dark,

"I was just kidding," he smiles.

"Peeta said to do what my heart tells me to do. No hard feelings. I told him
nothing would happen between me and you. I believed it myself until we got
here. But now it did, and it...I'm not feeling like I've done something wrong.
I enjoyed this week. We can do that...more often, if you like? As I said, there
are several small villages around the area. You're a good companion. Quiet."

Gale's heart feels heavy in his chest. She's inviting him in. Into her life.
There is going to be a couple Katniss and Gale. He can barely contain the huge
grin, spreading on his face.

"My sweet Catnip," he whispers, "I'll make it worth it. I promise."

He leans down, cupping her face gently. She is flushed tightly against his body
when their lips collide. It's the sweetest, most loving kiss he shared with
her. He feels her heart beat happily against his.

When they break apart, Katniss' olive skin glows pinkish.

"Would you..." she begins, stops...then gnaws on her lip, "Would you..."

"Anything, Catnip."

"Join us, in bed? For our first time? No armchair, I promise. That was mean."

"It wasn't mean. That came from a place of love. It's not a bad idea, but I'm
glad you ask. I want to make you happy, Catnip. You and Peeta."

She waits for a moment, then buries her face against his chest again.

"I'm sorry. I can't say I love you. I like you, I care for you. But...I'm....I
love Peeta. This is confusing."

"You don't have to be in love with me, Catnip. Especially not like you're in
love with him. We have a different relationship. It's okay to feel this way. He
loves you, too. More than he ever loved me."

"Doesn't that hurt you, Gale?" she whispers, "That you're not the significant
other?"

He is not sure if she's asking on his or her behalf.

"Whoever decided that there has to be only 'The One' anyway? Why can't there be
the special two? Who forced these rules on us? We live in a free world now,
Katniss. We fought for it. Anything is possible. If you have no problems with
it, I won't either. I've been happier with you this week and with Peeta before
the Quarter Quell than I've ever been. It's okay. We have each other. This is
what counts."

Katniss seems to ponder that for a while.

"I'm tired," she whispers, "I hope I can make it back tomorrow. My ankle feels
better already."

He nods, eyes starting to flutter. It has been a tough day indeed. A tough but
happy day. Tomorrow, they'll track back home. And work hard at making this
happen.

A future - as three.
Chapter End Notes
     This is another transitional chapter. I know that a lot of problems
     haven't been adressed, that the issues some of you had last time,
     aren't really solved. Look at it from another angle...there is more
     to come. Sooner or later. I hope you all have fun with your bunnies,
     by the way, and even found something worthwhile in such a chapter. It
     wasn't easy to write this, but I hope the bunnies let me move forward
     now.
***** On the way back *****
Chapter Summary
     Katniss and Gale return home.
Chapter Notes
     I know, I should be finishing another fic of mine. Don't be too mad
     at me. I hope I can conclude both of my WIP's before the year is
     over. Thank you for being so kind, leaving kudos and comments. I
     couldn't wish for a better audience, so enjoy this Chapter Twelve, On
     the way back. *bowsdeeply*
See the end of the chapter for more notes
"Gale," comes a whisper, against his ear.
He grumbles. Just a few more minutes. It's not exactly comfortable here on the
cold ground so he opens his eyes slowly. A pink dawn is hidden by the treeline
at the edge of his vision. Groaning once more he tries to turn around when he
feels a weight against him. He blinks, once, twice and sees Katniss head
leaning against his chest, her legs entangled in his.

"Gale," she says again. "Good morning."

Her voice is light, carefree. Since when? When did Katniss ever sound carefree?
Her voice was always laced through with a hidden pain, something holding her
back, something very melancholic. That, he supposes, is the thing that makes
her such a wonderful singer. That she knows about pain, about heartbreak, and
those who really listen can hear that in her voice.

"Are you okay?" he asks worriedly. "Ankle still swollen?"

"No...well, I don't know, I haven't stood up," she says.

He thinks, then, why don't you? But she looks up at him and her eyes seem
glazed over slightly and her breath is short.

"You don't have a fever, Catnip, do you?" He holds his hand against her
forehead, to test. She is warm, alright, but not overly so.

"I don't know," she answers, "I feel weird."

"Weird how? What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," she says, and there is some raspy impatience there. Or does
he imagine that?
"Help me out," she murmurs, and buries her face in his chest again.

"Do you want me to lift you up? Get you some breakfast? Please, tell me what's
wrong with you?"

He doesn't understand why she is still hanging onto him like that. They should
get up, they should get moving. The plan is to get back today because their
provisions that haven't gone stale are surely inedible after getting wet
yesterday.

Katniss begins to rub her nose against his chest, sniffling, and then slowly,
but steadily brings one of her hands to his breast. Shyly begins to circle his
nipple with one of her fingers. Oh.

Oh, he is so dense. This is what's happening here. This is Katniss telling him,
she is horny, without actually telling him. 'Feeling weird', alright.

"What do you usually do when you feel weird, Catnip?" he teases. "Early in the
morning, when you wake up, Peeta is long gone to the bakery and you're all
alone in that bed of yours. Just you and that weird feeling."

A dark red blot forms on Katniss cheeks when she looks up at him. Either way,
she doesn't hide from his gaze.

"Don't tease," she says, her voice low, shaking. He senses an opportunity. This
is a chance. When will he and Katniss be alone together again? He doesn't know,
but if she learns to get a little bit more relaxed and open with him, it will
be easier for Peeta to face both of them in the bedroom at the same time.
Peeta, who has his very own demons and shouldn't be too anxious when the time
finally comes.

"Oh, but I will," he says and her eyes grow confused, "Because that's half the
fun, isn't it?"

Admittedly, he is curious. How she reacts now will determine how he will
continue to treat her. He knows, she is brave. No matter how anxious, Katniss
is also a curious cat. And she is just admitting to these feelings, perhaps
afraid of confronting Peeta with them. Maybe if they get some of her more
primal urges out in the open, it'll be much sweeter in the end.

He leans down and kisses her on the mouth. Long, wet and slow. His tongue
teasing hers, coaxing hers, making her shudder. She opens her legs slightly and
begins to rub against of his knees. Some part of him, the part that held him
back from coming to District 12 in the first place, wonders if this is alright.
If this is not terribly wrong. Yeah, Peeta wanted this for them. He will be
happy about it, he practically ordered both of them to get it sorted out. But
this is the third time they do something sexual and he can't help but wonder,
if they shouldn't. He doesn't want Peeta to be jealous. The earlier feelings of
wanting to possess Katniss, of getting her first, of making her choose him are
completely gone. Not even an echo remains.

He turns away from her and says, as gently as he can, "I think we should go
home now."

Katniss' face changes. It was happy and soft and carefree. Now her brows crunch
together, her eyelids drop slightly and her whole body deflates.
Gale Hawthorne is a fool.
This is Katniss Everdeen.
The girl who has been innocent and sweet and would've invited him into her
bedroom, because she loves Peeta so much. She is still shy, she is still
unsure, she is very much inexperienced and she is trying her hardest to
articulate feelings that are foreign to her. Feelings she's been afraid of, all
her life.

Katniss makes to get up, but he is quicker. He grabs her around the waist and
lies her against his cock, which has grown explicitly during their heated
kissing.

"Stay," he says, "We still have enough time for you to tell me what got you so
riled up. A sweet, wet dream of Peeta jerking himself to climax in your bed,
maybe? Because I bet that's what he's doing at this moment. Forgets the world
around himself, that he has to be at work, that there are buns to be made, and
cakes to be baked. He is only thinking of you, and how wet your little pussy
is. And you do the same. Every morning, is that right? He goes to work and you
feel weird and that's what you're thinking about."

Katniss' mouth is open in shock. He has talked dirty to her yesterday, but she
didn't look him in the eye, it was dark and he only fingered her a little. This
is different. This is real, she cannot hide. What will she do? He feels
pressure, warm pressure against his cock and now it is his turn to look a bit
confused. She returns to circle her hips against his.

"And what do you do, Gale Hawthorne? Tell me. Every night, in that stupid
apartment of yours for the last two years? I bet you never slept when I called
at midnight. The way you touched yourself proved it. You are the one getting
stiff when you think of Peeta. Don't even try to hide it. Your cock grows hard
imagining Peeta jerking off."

He growls, meeting her hips, circling against her, "Well, well," he moans
against her lips, "I'm not hiding, I'm not denying. It's true. I've done it.
Not once, not twice, but hundreds of times. But lately not as often as on the
shore of the lake. After you asked me to. You loved it. You like it. You think,
it's hot."

His hands are on her ass cheeks now and he has that weird urge to slap them,
only to manage holding himself back in the last second.

"Yeah," she moans, "I loved it. I think, it's hot. And I love to think of
Peeta." She stops... "Peeta."

"When you went into the woods, you touched yourself," he suddenly realizes.

"Uh," she whimpers, "Yeah."

"How do you do it, Catnip," his voice is rough. He knows, he is short of
coming. Just from rubbing against her. It's strange. "Please, tell me. I want
to know."

"No. It's nothing special."

"Please," he repeats. "Did you undress?" He almost can't stand the image.
Katniss disappearing in the woods, shedding that stupid bathing suit, her tits
full and perky, glittering in the sunlight. Her slender legs, sliding down on
the mossy grass, her pussy pulsing, while she fingers herself roughly and moans
Peeta's name. Or maybe his name. He whimpers, too.

"I didn't. When I... I always wear clothes, pajamas...or underwear and sort of
hump my...hump it against my knuckle, lying on my stomach," Katniss says, her
voice so low, he almost doesn't hear.

It doesn't matter, because he comes anyway, into his boxers, soiling himself.
Not good. This was his last change of underwear and he has no time to wash it.
Katniss looks at him in shock. Shock and...disappointment? Suddenly, he feels
like laughing. He grins and laughs loudly, while he cuddles against her face
and nuzzles gently.

"Oh, Catnip," he chuckles, "You should see your face right now."

Katniss jumps up, wincing. Probably forgot her about her ankle.

"Get your things. I want to make it back to Twelve before it's dark," she says
coldly, "And wipe that stupid grin of your face. It doesn't suit you."

"Wait," he says, still smiling, "I didn't plan that. This happens sometimes.
I'm sorry. You were too cute. Now come back and let me make you feel good,
maybe let me eat you out? I'm good at that."

He always wanted to do that and burying his face between Katniss' legs would be
the highlight of this trip, he is sure. But the look on Katniss' face is not
one of sweet arousal anymore. She looks embarrassed and angry.

"Sure you are," she says coolly, and his face falls, "You're the sex expert.
The Know-it-all of Peeta's desires and of the wants and needs of countless
girls you fucked so skillfully at the slag heap over the years. Good for you."

What? Where did that come from?
His face heats. Does she really think that?

'You presented yourself that way,' a voice in his head seems to mock. 'She
admits how she masturbates and you laugh at her. How can you expect her to love
you and care for you when you hurt her feelings, every chance you get?'

He gets up slowly, aware of his soiled underwear and searches for an older pair
in his backpack. Then he sloughs behind the trees to relieve himself and to
change. When he returns, Katniss is already finished, waits for him. She stares
at the lake, playing with a strap of her backpack with one hand, while she
nibbles on a cracker, she's holding with the other. She left a cracker next to
his backpack and he sighs. He never meant to embarrass her. He did want to
satisfy her, but somehow he doubts she will let him touch her again. Not on
this trip. He refuses to believe though, that this will change anything. It
can't mean she is uncomfortable now. She won't tell Peeta he overstepped the
line, would she? And she...will she reject him? Because of one stupid mistake?
One stupid slip up? Why did this happen, when everything seemed so good and
perfect yesterday? When the future for the three of them seemed written in
stone, when happiness was in his grasp? Is their relationship so fragile?

"Gale," a soft voice is in his ear again. He hasn't heard. He hasn't realised
that he is kneeling next to his backpack and tears are running down his face.
He didn't notice that he had been crying and that he had been silently staring
at his bedroll for minutes, without moving. He never saw himself as such an
emotional mess, such a weak character.

"Will you.." His chin shudders, "...will you send me away now?" He can barely
say the words. He is short of begging. 'Please. Don't. I don't want to lose
you.' For one minute of horniness. Go back to that shallow existence of nothing
but work. 'Please', he begs silently, 'don't break my heart.'

She caresses his hair gently.
"No," she says, "No."

After a while she stands up. "Let's go."

He follows.
===============================================================================



The trip back is equally as uncomfortable as the journey a week ago was. Gale
doesn't know what to say to Katniss. Countless apologies lie on his tongue, one
sounding more insincere than the other. Gale can only admit his fears to
himself. He shows Katniss and Peeta that cocky facade of the ever knowing
Lover. Who knows how to please the ladies and who knows how to make a men blow
his load with only the brush of a hand.

But, and that thought gets stronger and stronger, while he walks behind
Katniss, is that really him? And aren't Peeta and Katniss the knowledgable
ones? Who understand love, who understand pain, who understand the sacrifices
one has to make to have a healthy and equal partnership with someone? A
relationship that is built on trust and not only lust? That sex, although not
unimportant, is just one part of the greater picture and that he might've
overestimated the impact it has?

Katniss and Peeta are not sexually active. They love each other anyway. Somehow
he doubts they would break up if there was never to be sex. Yes, Katniss did
seek him out, with the intention of making Peeta happy. But in what way? The
only thing that's not working out for the two of them is sex. Is that what his
role is supposed to be in the relationship? Not the missing loved one, but the
one who teaches them how to be intimate? A mentor of a different kind? And if,
one day, they decide they have enough of him, if desire starts to fade, when he
gets older, will they still want him to be around? Say, if Katniss gets
pregnant along the way, will he be relegated to become Uncle Gale or thrown out
of their house? Did they ever think about that? Or is it really a short term
thing, like Katniss admitted she wanted? Will she wait for an opportunity to
get rid of him, after she and Peeta overcome their sexual problem?

These thoughts are heavy and deeply unsettling to Gale. His own part in the
great romance of Katniss and Peeta. And that he himself made it that way. Maybe
not with Katniss, but what he had with Peeta was without a doubt, a curiosity
thing. An affair, built on lust and sexual urges. For him, it became more, and
during the years in which he had been separated from Peeta, he had built their
past into this grand romantic thing. When it might've only been the release of
sexual tension and to soothe a hurt of never being good enough for Peeta.
This is the reason why he broke down in the woods. Because Katniss won't stand
for it. Because she knows better. She will prevent Peeta from being hurt. And
she sees, what he really is doing here. Trying to manipulate them both with the
promise of sex. And that's the thing, he's been doing it all along. But
perhaps, this is also wrong. It is not only about sex, it cannot be. If it was
that, why did he never seek another relationship? A girl in District 2, oh
there had been many who were cute enough, wasn't that right? Eloise Whittleton,
a pretty redhead in her thirties, working at his mother's orphanage. She was
smart and witty, a family girl. She would've been perfect. Or Lisabel Clerkson,
who worked for the new government. She was his age and had a sense for
adventure in her eyes, and a body that would've made any man weak in his knees.
These weren't women you had affairs with, these were women for a relationship.
But he couldn't. Why?
And a desire to be with another man? He never felt it. He could appreciate the
handsomeness of men, much more than before Peeta, but to have sex with a man
that wasn't his Lil' one? It made him uncomfortable and not the slightest bit
aroused.

They are slow, much slower than a week ago. Katniss ankle is hurting her, and
when they stop for a short break, she hisses when he changes her bandages. She
lets him do it anyway, silently watching. He knows this is the moment he is
supposed to say something, maybe open up about his fears. She won't hate him
for it. She won't think him weak for admitting that he is uncertain. Still, he
can't bring himself to talk.

"You really do love him," she states, when he applies the cooling lotion on the
red, swollen nub.

"What?"

"It shocked me, you know. Seeing you cry like this. I thought to myself, why is
Gale crying? Nothing I said before had such an impact on you. What I said
wasn't that hurtful, right? You're not known for being so easily insulted. But
now that I thought about it...it is hard to grasp for me still, but you're
desperate for this. For him. You really love him and need him. It will destroy
you, if I say it's not to be. You've been tense during this week, don't think I
hadn't noticed. You weren't obvious. You tried your best to seem uncaring. When
that hailstorm hit you finally let go. You didn't think about impressing me
anymore. You were honest. With me and yourself. And this morning, when I
thought we were finally at that point, the point Peeta had talked about before
we left, your armour went up again."

She sighs deeply, looking into the distance.

"I'm going to be straightforward. You see, I obviously enjoyed what we did. And
we will go back and tell Peeta all about it. I'm going to tell him that yes, we
are friends again and that you can join our live as a couple. I'm sure Peeta
will be ecstatic. Maybe he will show us a subdued face, but I know this will
make him happy."

A but is coming he can feel it.

"But," she says, "While I do enjoy what we did, and I will, no doubt enjoy what
is to come...I realized this morning that you are not Peeta. You are not the
one I need. You're here now, and I don't try to force myself to have you here,
believe me. We have a lot in common and I'm okay with spending time together,
with or without Peeta. Like I said, I am attracted to you and I can't deny that
it makes me happy. But when you hold yourself back like that...I think I see
that this is going to be a lot more work than any of us, and that includes
Peeta, would like to admit. It's not only about you hurting me.I have to see
you as an equal partner as well. So everything I say to you, is indeed
affecting you. That is clearer to me now. I never thought much about your
feelings, in all of this. To be honest, it seemed like you were happy to get
into Peeta's pants, first and foremost. And that was what worried me. Because
Peeta is so much more than that. I'm...I'm not sure what I'm actually trying to
say here. It's just that the relationship between Peeta and me will change, I
have no doubt about it. The thing I'm afraid of, is what will it change into."

"Katniss, I..."

She shakes her head.

"Seeing you cry like that made it clear to me that this is more to you than
simply," she hesitates, "Simply sex. You might be able to separate sex from
love, with all the experience you have. For me, it won't be that easy. Being
intimate with you means opening up. Not only physically."

He nods. It all makes sense what she says, more than she can know.

"You're afraid," he states, "Of being with me."

"It's not because I don't trust you," she says, "Maybe it is too much too fast,
Gale. This is not a casual thing to me. It's my life. It's Peeta's life, and it
is your life. If we're not genuine....if we're not honest about our hurts and
pains this can destroy so much...I can't let that happen."

"I'm afraid, too," he answers, "You're right. I was tense, because of my fears.
That you wouldn't agree to Peeta's proposal. He made it clear that I...that he
doesn't..."

There are tears in his eyes, he notices. Shame creeps up his neck, making him
itchy.

"If you say no, I'm to be tossed aside. I get it. I have no right to this. To a
relationship with him, and certainly not to a relationship with you. That it
would hurt so much, so fucking much, the thought of it all not
happening...that's why I cried. I'm sorry for the way I acted this morning.
It's...I didn't think of the consequences."

Katniss sighs deeply.

"But that's not all, isn't it?"

"No. You were honest with me, so I'll be honest with you. I never had a
relationship, Katniss. I never had anything similar to what you and Peeta have.
You both are my guideline in this and if I fuck it up, you guys have to be the
ones to tell me. You said you wondered if it was only about the sex for me and
I can see why you think that. It's...in a romantic setting, sex is the only
thing I'm confident in. What you wanted from me was a favour that involves sex.
And once that's done you wanted me gone. My role in this three way cannot only
be sexual. I know, that I am to blame for giving the impression that this is
all I care about, but really it is the opposite. The other parts....I know so
little about. It made me afraid. What can I offer, if not this? I don't have
much to give, Katniss. And that's the truth. So I wonder...after all is said
and done why would you or Peeta want me to stay? What if you tire of me? I have
no idea what's coming and that makes me scared."

Katniss stands up, slowly putting pressure on her ankle and then smiles a
little.

"We won't make it until nightfall. But when it's getting dark we will be in an
area that is familiar to us. There is a full moon tonight, so we have nothing
to worry about."

She puts on her backpack while he tucks the first-aid kit back into his bag.
When he turns to her, she is suddenly in his arms.

"I forgot," she says gently and the warmth is like a balm around his heart,
"What a kind and goodhearted man you are. I'm unable to take away these fears
you have. I'm unable to tell you this will work out, no matter what. The truth
is, I have no idea. You and me, we are trying. Let's stop fighting, and give
this a try. Not only for Peeta but for us. Maybe this is a good thing. Maybe
this can be healing, for all three of us."

He leans down and their lips meet, this time for a short but sensual kiss.

"You're wrong," she says after the break apart, "You have a lot to offer
besides....that. Peeta believes in you, so I will trust his judgement."

She winks at him, then turns in the direction of the District. He feels
lighter, easier, as if a burden has lifted. Katniss didn't tell him
everything's going to be alright. She took his worries seriously. And that
truth helps much more than any simple reassurance would have done.
===============================================================================


Darkness has fallen over the District. It is past midnight when they finally
arrive at the edge of the Victor's Village.

"Do you think Peeta has waited for us?" Gale asks. He'd rather fall into bed
immediately. It has been a long day, and he is exhausted.

Katniss shakes her head, "I told Peeta that we might come back a few days
later. I hadn't decided which way to go that evening. He is sleeping in his
bed, I guess." She points to Peeta's house.

"Come home with me." He follows her and wonders if she implies that he should
sleep in her bed tonight. That seems a bit daring, before even talking with
Peeta. He gives a little sigh of relief when she guides him to the guest room
in her house.

"Look, Peeta even put clean linen on. Better take a shower, you can't sleep in
them like this."

"Now?" he asks, aghast.

"Yes," Katniss looks smug, "We have the luxury of warm water, even at nights.
Good night, Gale."

She disappears upstairs and Gale can only shake his head. What a week. What a
day. And what will tomorrow bring? He can't wait to find out. After taking a
hot shower he snuggles into the warm sheets that smell like lavender. It was
good that he showered. And the luxury of a warm bed like this is nothing to be
scoffed at.
===============================================================================


The dream is colourless, soundless, vague. In it there is warmth and a very
familiar urge. An urge as old as life itself. The urge to find your partner and
to mate. Gale groans in his sleeps and turns around. At least tries to, when a
strong arm is holding him back. There is a giggle, a light, female giggle,
against his mouth. Kissing his lips. Tasting his tongue.

There is that arm around his waist, holding him in place. And then a hand in
his pants. Warm and wet. Then that giggle again. A sweet scent.

"What is that?" someone asks.

"Coconut oil," a deeper voice answers, "It makes everything easier."

"What about the sheets?"

"I'll wash them."

He opens his eyes, slowly waking only to see Katniss in front of him, wearing
nothing but underwear. A grey bra and matching panties. She smiles at the way
he goggles at her body like a fool.

"Good morning," she says in her wonderful raspy way. "I hope you had a
wonderful night."

She wraps her hands under the band of his boxers and pulls them down, dragging
them to the foot of the bed. He is naked, naked and hot and warm and Peeta is
behind him, working on his cock lazily.

"Katniss?" he asks hesitantly.

What is this? Shouldn't they talk? Shouldn't they talk with Peeta about their
week before doing anything they might regret?

She appears again, in his line of vision.

"Let go," she says, "Enjoy. It's not about me. Let Peeta give you that. I will
just lie here and watch."

"Hmm," he whimpers, "Lil' one..." He tries to turn, but Peeta's hold on him is
like iron. Gentle iron, if that's even possible.

Peeta kisses his neck. Then licks his hairline. Then repeats his kisses.

Gale is confused, still half asleep, bucking into the tunnel that Peeta has
formed with his hands, pressing his ass against Peeta's cock. He must be
dreaming.

"Shh," Peeta soothes into his neck, "Let go."

"Peeta, please," he wants to..he doesn't know what he wants. Interrupt, mostly.
He feels, this is not correct. They are not here for him, both of them. He is
here for them, to please them, to make them happy. He is already embarrassed
that he left Katniss dissatisfied yesterday. It cannot continue like that. He
throws a helpless glance to her, hoping she understands his silent plea, but
she only smiles lazily, plays with the edge of her panties, looking down. He
follows her gaze and sees Peeta's hand jerking him off. And Katniss is
watching. A sudden rush of hotness washes over him, like a tropical ocean tide.

"Wait," he moans, enjoying this way too much. "Talk....we need...to talk...."

"Talking is overrated," Katniss says, "You and I are not good at it. Peeta on
the other hand....Peeta, he knows how to talk."

She raises her eyebrow and something passes between her and Peeta, some sort of
signal, something he isn't part of. Only the position he is in, keeps that from
stinging.

"If you say so," Peeta laughs, and that laugh is like music to Gale's ears.

"Show me," Katniss urges, "Show me how you do it."

"With even pressure," Peeta says, and there is no hesitancy in his voice,
making Gale wonder what in earth's name Katniss and Peeta did or talked about
last night, that made them decide to come into his bed like this. Peeta had not
been in his house, fast asleep, he gets that. He was here, waiting for her.
They had planned this.

"Uhm," he moans.

"Looks like he enjoys that," Katniss says, cheeks reddening.

"When he starts with these little sounds here, you can squeeze a little
tighter, and do it faster. Easy, really."

"I see." Katniss answers, and Gale decides he must still be dreaming. It's a
crazy dream, weirdly realistic, with coconut flavour, and he never had a dream
with flavour or smells in them, but a dream. These squishy sounds are not
helping, though.

"Hnng," he groans, leaning back and enjoying Peeta's hands on him for the first
time in years.

"He looks red," Katniss says, as if he isn't there. "Is that normal?"

"Yup," Peeta confirms, "Gale will come for you now, won't you Gale?"

"Ahh, I, I...." he doesn't answer. Not knowing what part he is playing. Isn't
he the one who is supposed to direct this stuff?

"Are you a good boy, Gale? Will you come for Katniss?" Peeta's voice is sweet
and lazy, but the pressure from his hand is anything but gentle. It's not the
soft, sweet touch of a girl, it's a man's touch, harder, stronger - from a hand
that is used to knead dough, or wring necks. Peeta is strong. Stronger than he
looks. It is bordering on painful, but Peeta also knows what Gale can take, so
he doesn't worry. He only nods.

"Say it," Peeta squeezes, making him jerk.

"m'a good boy," he manages, "Please."

He doesn't get to the second part, about coming for Katniss, because he does
cum. Shoots all over the lavender scented sheets, over Peeta's fist, that
continues to milk him and onto Katniss grey bra. Some of it even drips into her
navel.

"How was that?" Peeta chuckles.

"Not bad," Katniss admits, "Plenty more than back at the lake."

"Mmmh?" Peeta asks into his ear, "What was that? Did you blow your load in
front of Katniss at the lake?"

Peeta's hand leaves his cock to play with his pubes.

"Gale?" Katniss grins at him.

"What?" he rambles, "What?"

"Are you okay?" Katniss asks, "Was that okay?"

"I don't know," he answers, honestly, "Am I dreaming?"

"You're not," she says sheepishly, "We wanted to do something for you.
Something nice. Before we get into serious business mode."

"Are you mad?" comes Peeta's voice from behind and he turns around. Peeta is
drying his hands on a towel, he left on the night stand. He hands it to Katniss
who cleans herself and then dabs around Gale's midriff.

There is worry in Peeta's eyes, just a little, but it's there behind the
excited sheen of blue.

"I'm not mad," he says quickly, "Just confused. Whose idea was that?"

"Katniss'" Peeta says, "If you didn't like it, please say so. We just
thought....she told me..."

"I told him you've been sad yesterday," Katniss crawls to his side throwing the
towel to the other end of the room. "I hope you're not sad anymore."

"The opposite. But still confused," he looks at her and back at him, strangely
aware that he's lying here, bare naked, limp cock out and they are both in
their underwear.

Katniss sighs, "Playtime is over then." She looks at Peeta, who is getting up,
"Breakfast?"

"Give me ten minutes," he answers. He leans down and kisses Gale on his
forehead "Let's have our serious talk, then. I can see you need some answers."

Skipping away, there is a spring in his step. Katniss is still leaning against
him, yawning. "You should take a shower."

"You planned this," he accuses, still utterly bewildered.

"Maybe, maybe not," her tone is suddenly serious, "Have you seen the smile on
his face? Have you heard the joy in his voice? This is worth it. And it's true.
I don't want to see you sad. Whatever you might believe, Gale, I hate to see
you cry."

A tear twinkles at the corner of his eye anyway.

"Oh, come on," she teases, "Go and take your shower."

Standing up, she yells, "You better have fresh cheese buns ready, Peeta. I have
a craving, indeed."
Chapter End Notes
     I hope the balance between angsty relationship stuff and happy smut
     wasn't too weird in this one. If you think it was weird, I blame the
     bunnies.
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