Who: Katniss & Peeta What: Talking Where: The hotel room Georgia rented for her. When: After Cato arrives. Warnings | Status: death, ptsd, murder etc. | in progress
It was impossible to feel safe. People kept reassuring them that they were, but no amount of words from strangers could reduce the fear or the worry. It was a source of constant anxiety and Katniss was only able to hide it because no one was paying attention to her except Peeta. Behind the words on the screen they couldn't see the tired eyes of a wild girl, terrified and twitchy at the slightest sounds and footsteps nearby. Always waiting, nervous and full of adrenalin, certain it was about to start again. She had left the arena, sure, but who was to say this wasn't another twisted game? She couldn't shake the feeling. And the nightmares hadn't ended. She hadn't slept since Peeta asked her to leave. Without him there to chase the ugliness away she pretty much gave up on trying to be normal.
And now Cato had arrived. Katniss was afraid of him on some level, but not terrified. He was a reminder of everything she was failing at denying. Hadn't Peeta tried to calm her down too when he found her? She and Cato had come from a place where people were trying to kill them. Their reactions were instinct meant to keep them alive for just one more hour. One more day. Very few people understood that.
She didn't blame him. She couldn't. She understood his anger and his worry. He wasn't stupid, he wasn't some irrational kid that should be threatened or laughed at. They were all wired and ready to shoot at a moment's notice. Or to run for their lives and hide. That's why Katniss carried her bow everywhere.
But the moment she locked the door behind Peeta, she turned and threw her arms around him. They weren't safe, and the moment they started to believe it would be the moment everything went wrong.