Who: Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen Where: Apartment 1304 What: Trying to figure out exactly what's going on When: Tuesday night Rating: Low Open: No. Status: Complete!
Oh no, not again.
Peeta pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. It had been a long while since he'd had an episode, and ones this bad - where he completely lost his grasp on his own reality - were becoming blessedly rare. Finally, he opened his eyes, trying to keep his mind calm enough that he could search for the markers, for the fuzzy edges that always marked one of his episodes.
They weren't there.
His heart skipped a beat, and he began to pace slightly, slowly, his limp a bit more pronounced than usual. Where was he? Where did his mind think he was? What was happening?
"Katniss?" he called, a bit of panic in his voice. "Katniss, are you here?"
The last thing Katniss remembered, she had just returned from her visit District 12. Everything was a mess; buildings were in ruins and she was, quite simply, overwhelmed. She must have dozed off on the helicopter ride, because the next thing she knew, she had found herself in a bed that wasn't hers. She was surprised to find her bow and arrow next to her bag and her father's jacket on the floor near her bed.
Where was she? What was this place? She'd never seen anything like it. The furniture looked fine, the fabrics richer than what she was used to. She didn't know what was going on. There didn't seem to be anybody else in this particular room, but then she heard a voice.
Peeta? She stared at the door, then approached it slowly. Hesitating just briefly, she opened it, blinking when she found him standing in the middle of the room.
"Peeta?" she asked, her voice a little scratchier than she was used to. "Peeta, you're- you're here-"
And before she could think about what she was doing, she threw her arms around him.
Peeta's eyes went wide when he saw her, a combination of joy and panic. He feared himself so very much when he had his episodes, feared that he would in some way hurt her, that he would become the monster he had been when he'd been rescued from the Capitol and brought to Thirteen. He closed his eyes, forcing to his mind the memory of her face, filled with fear as she looked at him in the days after that. Nothing in Peeta's entire life had been more painful than that expression - that look that she had given him that said that she feared him. And it was that look that sustained him and made him do little more than tense as she now embraced him.
His heart pounded in fear for a moment, but when he realized that he was not going to lose control, that he was not going to lose his mind again to the Capitol's torture, his arms went around her as well, tightly, wishing nothing more than to protect her.
"I'm here, Katniss, I'm here," he said comfortingly. "Where are we? Where is this?"
He pulled back, looking her in the eyes, his own uncertain, but gentle.
"They said the Capitol had you," she started, relieved when his arms went around her in return. "I thought- I didn't know- this isn't the Capitol, is it? How could they have-"
Katniss was confused at his questions and she looked up in surprise. "You don't- you don't know where we are? I have absolutely no idea."
She looked down after a moment too long, knowing she should pull back, but not quite bringing herself to be able to do it. "I don't understand."
Peeta looked at her in surprise, not understanding her words.
"The Capitol did have me," he answered carefully. "But Katniss, that was months ago."
Or had he only imagined it? Had the past eight months that they had been rebuilding in 12 been nothing more than an episode? A world he had created somewhere in his crippled mind?
"Katniss...I...the -" he stopped, swallowing. "Katniss, the Rebellion has been over for eight months, right? Right? We're back in 12. And things are getting better. I'm getting better."
He was trembling now, feeling more and more lost at every moment.
"..The Rebellion hasn't even started." Katniss pulled away, taking a step back. "I mean. I just- we were in the Quarter Quell, and it- I broke the barrier, and the next thing I knew I was in Thirteen and they told me that they couldn't- they weren't able to save you. I don't know what- the Capitol's had you, and I haven't seen you- I keep telling them to get you, but they haven't and-"
She looked up to him, then had to sit down, right on the floor where she was. Her words were tumbling out, faster and faster, and she was finding it difficult to breathe-- it made her light headed.
Peeta immediately crouched down beside her, more concerned about her well being than his own confusion, for the moment.
"I..."
It didn't make any sense. If the rebellion hadn't started yet, then the Capitol hadn't hijacked him, which meant he couldn't be having an episode. But yet, he clearly remembered those eight months back in 12, rebuilding the life they had lost, growing closer as they did. They had been hard times, full of sadness and memories, but good times, too. How could she have forgotten?
"Katniss...it's over. It's all over. We're back in Twelve. We won."
If you could actually call it a victory.
"I don't understand." Katniss looked back to Peeta, terribly confused. She didn't know what the Capitol had done to him- there had been plenty of speculation. But how could they have won? And where were they now? She tore her gaze from him to look around. It looked like a decent enough sort of space- it certainly wasn't Twelve or Thirteen. "They keep asking me to be the Mockingjay. They want me to lead the rebellion. I was just visiting Twelve, and I was on my way back. I don't understand how we could have won yet."
"I don't understand either," he said honestly, worrying his bottom lip. It had been a long time since he'd found himself this confused, and this didn't even have any of the marks of one of his episodes. This was not good.
"Okay," he said, trying to steady his voice as he spoke. "Okay. Last thing I remember, we were in Twelve, living in the Victor's houses. The Rebellion was over. We'd won. We lost a lot of people, but those of us left were finally safe from the Capitol. They'd hijacked me...but I was getting over it. I'll never be completely over it, but I'm getting so much better. I can usually tell now...and I haven't tried to hurt you since we were in Thirteen..."
He trailed off, looking at her, willing her to remember.
Katniss shifted where she was sitting, pulling her knees up to her chest. "I don't remember that," she replied, her voice hardly a whisper. "I mean- that- that hasn't happened to me." She frowned slightly, then closed her eyes, dropping her head to her knees. What was this place? She was baffled, and she reached for him again after a moment, needing to reassure herself of his presence.
Peeta was confused. Terribly confused. This didn't...well...it just didn't feel like one of his episodes. It felt real...and yet...where were they? How had they gotten here? Why didn't Katniss remember their last...year together?
"I don't know what's going on," he said softly, fear in his words. Despite his nerves and fear, he took her in his arms, drawing as much comfort from that as he gave.
Katniss had to think. She was quiet, her mind racing as they sat there in the middle of the room. "I don't, either," she replied, giving a soft sigh. "But- but we're together. We'll be alright if we're together, right? We always look out for each other."
Peeta nodded, at least able to assure her of that.
"Always, Katniss. I'll always be here. Whatever this is, whatever's happened to us, we'll be okay as long as we're together. I've always got your back. Always will."
He looked around them, nervous that nothing looked familiar.
"Should we...see if there's anyone outside?"
Katniss allowed herself to take some relief in his words, and in a rather impulsive moment, she leaned over to kiss him briefly. She was just so overwhelmed and so glad to have him here, and she pulled back after a moment, realizing what she'd done. "I- right. Outside."
She pushed herself up to her feet, shoving her hands into the oversized leather jacket that she wore. "Let's go?"
Peeta kissed her back softly, quickly, letting her decide how long it was to last. He treasured the moments she felt the need to do things like that. But when she pulled back, he only smiled at her gently and nodded.