Katniss Everdeen (thisgirlsonfire) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2016-09-01 16:51:00 |
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Entry tags: | !closed, !gift, !log, ~2016 september, ~25 points, ~~ash lynburn (ashlynburn), ~~katniss everdeen (thisgirlisonfire) |
Who: Katniss Everdeen and Ash Lynburn
What: Preparing
Where: Their house
When: Thursday evening
Warnings: I don't think so
Status: complete gdoc
Fall was fast approaching and Katniss remembered last year getting the frightening message from Allison that Ash had collapsed and was in the clinic. She remembered how sick he was and how worried she was about him and that was before they were dating. From what he explained, it was something that was bound to happen again this fall and Katniss was determined that they would be prepared this time since they actually knew.
She was sitting at the kitchen table with her seldom used laptop, scribbling a list on a piece of paper. There was a lot of information on the internet about how to care for a sick person and she was determined to be a good girlfriend and do whatever she could to make this fall better for Ash than last year.
Engrossed in what she was doing, she didn’t hear footsteps behind her.
***
It was Ash, who’d just come in from another magic practice session with Kami. Things were coming along now, and as he started to gain control over his powers, he could see how he might - one day - be able to be more powerful than his father. He hoped it wouldn’t be a long process; he didn’t think people in Sorry-in-the-Vale had very long left.
“Hey,” he called as he approached, because he’d once learned the hard way he should never touch Katniss before she was aware he was going to. She was like a skittish horse that way. “What’re you up to?”
***
Katniss looked over her shoulder with a smile when she heard Ash call out a greeting. Ever since the cruise, their relationship had been stronger than ever and she realized that the feelings she had probably meant she was falling in love with him. She wasn’t ready to say so yet, not until she was certain.
“I’m trying to make sure we’re prepared before you get sick this year,” she said. There was a slight admonishment in her tone that reminded him she wasn’t happy that he hadn’t told her and Johanna last year before it happened.
***
Ash chose to skip right over that, though, and went straight to feeling pleased that she was thinking about his wellbeing.
Back home, preparations for September had been a joyless thing, since Ash and his parents were all inflicted. They'd rarely brought anyone into helping them with their ordeal.
“Soups help a lot,” he offered as he came over. As he looked over what she had so far, he rested his hand on her shoulder.
***
“I’ll ask Piper if she can make some for us,” Katniss said, proud of herself for not flinching when he touched her. She was getting a lot better with the casual physical contact as long as it wasn’t completely unexpected. “We can probably freeze it so it’s ready whenever we need it.”
None of them were great cooks and she figured that since this was important, she didn’t want to risk Ash’s health on her or Johanna’s meager kitchen skills.
***
“You’ve really been thinking about this,” Ash said, impressed. He grinned at her as he took the adjacent seat. “I’m starting to think having a girlfriend’s a pretty good thing.”
He was just teasing, of course. He’d already enjoyed having a girlfriend long before. Skittish as Katniss may be, he liked spending time with her. The fact that she was getting more comfortable with their makeout sessions was a bonus, too.
***
Katniss rolled her eyes at his teasing, but still reached over to take his hand with the one she wasn’t using to write her list. Ever since being forced to share a bed on the cruise for more than a week, she was finding that she enjoyed being more tactile even when they weren’t making out. Though she also did enjoy that as well and was thinking that she might be ready to take their physical relationship further soon. Maybe once they got him through his September sickness.
“Well, I actually have the opportunity to plan this year,” she said. “I’m not going to be blindsided by a text from someone I don’t even know telling me that you’re in the clinic.”
***
Now he did look abashed. “Yeah, I had trust issues back then,” he admitted. He still did, now, but he was getting a lot better at letting people see beneath the Disney Prince exterior.
“But,” and here he lifted their clasped hands to brush a kiss on hers, “with the help of my very understanding girlfriend, I may get past it and maybe not push myself to the point of falling down on the street this year.”
***
“Your very understanding girlfriend will not be so very understanding if she gets that call again,” Katniss warned though she was smiling to show she wasn’t actually angry. It wasn’t like she didn’t understand trust issues or have a million of her own. Their relationship was not an easy one, but that was what made it worth it.
She smirked a little. “I’m also pretty sure Johanna will make that face at you if that happens again.” He knew which face she meant. It was one that no one wanted to see.
***
Ash knew exactly what face she was talking about, and he winced. “Yeah, let's not summon The Face. I can't guarantee I won't just collapse somewhere” - because he wasn't going to just sit at home until it hit - “but at least you'll know it's coming. And hopefully with Kami here this year, it might help.”
Neither of them knew if she could, since she only been around Jared once when the sickness hit and she'd been his Source, and back then no one really knew what was going on. But maybe, this time, she might be able to channel her power to him.
***
Katniss frowned a little. “When you start feeling ill, you should stay home,” she said. “I’m sure your job will understand if you need some time off. Especially if you tell them ahead of time.”
Even though she now considered Allison a friend, that message had been rather unpleasant to receive and she didn’t like the idea of Ash being out and about and randomly collapsing without her or Johanna or someone that they knew and trusted to help him.
***
“If I start to feel awful I'll stay home,” Ash offered as a compromise. “I'd go nuts if I stayed home when I'm just starting to feel off.”
What constituted as feeling awful might differ between the two of them, but at least Ash was fairly confident he could refrain from face planting on the street this year.
***
That was probably the only compromise she was going to get and Katniss really couldn’t argue too much since she was equally, if not more, stubborn when it came to just about everything. “Okay, that’s fair,” she said. “Just promise you’ll be careful.”
Because now that she opened up and let him in, she certainly didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
***
“I will,” Ash said, and he leaned in to brush a kiss on her forehead.
When he pulled back, he grinned at her, that thousand watt grin of his. “After all, I'd hate to get The Face from either of you.”
***
Katniss laughed and shook her head. “I don’t have a face. Not like Johanna.” She totally did and just didn’t realize it.
“You know who you probably need to worry about even more than me or Johanna though? Prim. She’s the healer in the family. She’s probably going to hover a lot.”
***
Ash winced. Even though no one held him responsible for killing Prim in his hallucination, he still hadn't forgiven himself. He was much better at hiding it now, but the thought of being nursed by her brought those feelings to the fore.
“As long as she doesn't give me the face I'll be fine,” he said gamely.
***
“You’re going to have to figure out how to be comfortable around her,” Katniss said softly, reaching for his hand. “Because otherwise she’s going to notice and ask questions.” And while she knew the reason why Ash was awkward around her sister, neither of them wanted Prim to hear about that vision.
***
“Definitely trying,” Ash said wearily. He squeezed her hand, taking comfort in the touch. “It's just hard when I still feel the need for blood magic. It's much better with Kami here, but it's still there. Simmering.”
He wouldn't have made that admission to anyone else, not even Kami. But Katniss understood. And, miraculously, she didn't judge him for it.
***
Considering how many lives she had taken, Katniss wasn’t in a position to judge anyone for doing things that might be considered morally ambiguous. The fact that Ash was aware of his desire and actively struggled to manage it was enough for her. She had no concern whatsoever that he would ever actually hurt Prim or anyone else.
“If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”
***
“You’re already doing it,” Ash assured her. Just having someone accept him for who he was - Ash Lynburn - rather than the Heir of Aurimere, or the evil sorcerer, was a great help in itself. Ash couldn’t remember when, if ever, he had been able to simply do as he liked and be who he wanted to be, without expectations.
He leaned in to give her a kiss, then straightened. “Okay, I better go get a few shots before the light goes. Need anything while I’m out?”
***
Katniss shook her head. “No, I’m good,” she said. “I have a lot of shopping to do over the next few days.” And she wasn’t done with her research yet. “You go and have fun with your other girlfriend.”
Yes, she did have a sense of humor about Ash and his camera.
***
Hey, as long as she didn't feel threatened or anything.
Ash laughed and leaned in to give her a kiss. “I'll see you later. And. Thanks. This means a lot to me.”
***