Checking in - For Katniss

[fuelforthefire]

Two weeks have passed since the cornucopia arrived. It took a few days to get rid of it, too, the people I'd called unable to cut it down for scrap. They'd hauled it away eventually but even though I couldn't see it it was in no way forgotten. I'd taken the money they'd given me - more than I'd expected - and put it in an account in Prim's name. If anything happened to me, or to Katniss it would be there to help her.

Now all I had to make sure was that nothing happened to us.

I'd been following the plan we'd set out, that hadn't changed with Finnick's arrival. In fact, that was something I was okay with, his presence around Katniss and Prim's house a relief. We were acting like everything was normal, like the cornucopia hadn't affected us at all, even though it had. The funny thing was that in acting like friends, we were starting to actually figure out how to be friends. Something we'd started before those second games finally coming to fruition. If nothing else that made me happy.

But it was still all pretend. I couldn't sleep that night and had gotten up early, letting myself into the bakery before anyone else. It wasn't my shift but I got things started, the ovens throwing out heat that warmed the whole place and I worked on the designer breads that they offered. It made me smile sometimes, the things they put in bread. There was an artistry to it, and I missed it, spending most of my time with the extravagent cakes people ordered for their weddings and celebrations. There was something simpler that I was making too, a small batch of cheese buns, something I did from time to time. Never many for the shop, I'd leave some for the staff and take the rest home with me.

Today was no exception. I'd left after the rest of the staff arrived but when it was still dark out, the winter days short. I had a bag full of hot rolls and some hot chocolate that was just as fresh, and I was pretty sure that as early as it was Katniss would be awake and on her way back from checking her traps or whatever it was she did when she hunted in the mornings. The lights still off, I settled on the bench on the porch to wait. I knew it wouldn't be long.

Comments

[fuelforthefire]

"You'd have to catch a lot more squirrel. Maybe some wild dogs," I say, trying to keep everything light. It's cooking well, and I offer her a shy smile. "You want to get out plates?"

[vocalfuel]

"Sure," I say with a nod, holding his gaze for a moment before I go to do exactly that, reaching into a cupboard for a couple of plates. "I haven't seen as much in the way of wild dogs here. Squirrels, there are plenty of. I guess they're pretty universal."

[fuelforthefire]

"That's probably a good thing. Especially living out here. I might have to learn to shoot to come over. We both know my aim is crappy," I joke. It's not half-bad, but it's nothing compared to Katniss, or even what Finnick could do. "I'd probably shoot off my other foot."

[vocalfuel]

"You probably would," I agree, a wry joke, though it's entirely true. We've both got our strengths. Hunting wouldn't be his. That's the last thing we need right now, anyway, for something to happen to him, even just some silly accident. "We'll leave the shooting to me."

[fuelforthefire]

"It's for the best," I say with a sigh, putting on as if it bothers me. My smile will give me away, I can't hide it. The morning is too nice. "You should wake up Prim and Finnick. There's plenty of food."