#nightlockrebel

[wormholxtreme]

@nightlockrebel | College AU Fun Stuff

The bass of the music was so loud it made the whole room thump. Lights flashing to the crescendoing beat as the crowd of people jumped, screaming lyrics at the top of their lungs and whooping with exuberance. It was like something out of a movie. Something Peeta wasn't sure he'd ever really be apart of, that is until one running back Finnick Odair convinced him college was the time to explore and experience these kind of things.

Peeta didn't mind the people watching, perched at the bar, seeing the way Finnick owned the room. He was still feeling it out, trying to determine how much he wanted to put himself out there when he saw her.

Dark hair in a long braid over her shoulder. Eyes smoldering darkly, dangerously. He wasn't close enough to hear the conversation but the way the guy was looming over her gave Peeta pause. The bar was full of people shooting their shot so to speak, but this one felt different, volatile. He took a swig of his drink before walking over.

He moved through the crowd easily, tall and strong but gentle. He leaned over looking at her and gave her a small wink before speaking. "Hey babe! I'm so sorry I'm late. The line outside is crazy." he announced himself smoothly, as if he hadn't just completely used his tall broad frame to block the guy from her.

Peeta stood back up, moving to her side. Close enough to feign something, but not enough to actually invade her space. He kept the small, pleasant smile to his lips. "So whose your friend?"

It was comically the way the guy suddenly backtracked. Eyes wide, apologetic, and embarrassed. He stumbled away, looking for the next girl to impose on. Peeta watched him go, the softness in his blue eyes narrowing. He pulled out his phone, sending a quick text to Finnick. A heads up to keep an eye out on the guy or talk to a bouncer about him.

He slipped his phone back in his pocket, turning to her. "Sorry for imposing but you looked like you could use a little back up."

[mvndrvke]

@nightlockrebel gets a starter!

Well, she's part of a rebellion now.

Effie is still in shock about it. She'd fled the Capitol without so much as a thought when Haymitch had said they were leaving, and now? Now, she's wondering what she's gotten herself into. Her family probably thinks she was kidnapped by rebels; they don't know she is one. They don't know she left willingly-- impulsively, irresponsibly, but willingly.

Tending to Katniss' needs as the Mockingjay is all she's got. It gives her something grounding to focus on, and she's honestly relieved to have the distraction. But nothing can distract her from that first awful interview put out by the Capitol. Nothing will wipe that image of Peeta from her head.

She imagines Katniss is much the same. Effie walks awkwardly in her issued boots, not looking at all like the composed figure she usually does, and knocks on Katniss' door.

"Katniss, dear, it's Effie," she says. "Can I come in?"

[withereth]

KATNISS—

i   hope   that   you’re   well   ,   @nightlockrebel   .   life   has   been   hard   on   us   all   ,   but   not   all   of   us   are   your   age   .   i   know   that   i   can   tell   you   that   it   will   get   better   ,   and   i   will   ,   but   i   also   know   that   you   probably   won’t   believe   me   .   when   i   was   your   age   ,   the   worst   pain   i   had   ever   felt   was   the   loss   of   my   sister   .   her   name   was   maria   ,   i   want   you   to   know   that   i’ve   put   a   photo   of   prim   in   with   my   collection   of   her   things   .   i   hope   they   can   keep   each   other   company   ,   wherever   they   are   . 

everything   is   settling   here   .   people   are   going   back   to   their   work   ,   i’ve   even   gone   back   to   mine   .   my   papa   and   i   it’s   good   to   have   some   structure   again   ,   it   helps   me   feel   whole   again   .   not   to   mention   how   nice   it   is   to   see   that   my   strength   is   returning   .   every   day   that   i   go   to   bed   exhausted   ,   i   know   that   i’m   closer   to   finding   the   new   normal   . 

are   you   keeping   in   contact   with   your   mother   at   all   ?   she’s   doing   great   work   ,   so   many   of   our   doctors   were   killed   in   the   war   and   were   so   grateful   to   have   access   to   her   .   i’m   not   sure   what   she’s   told   you,   so   i’ll   pass   on   the   news   now   that   i’ve   had   time   to   come   to   terms   with   matters   .   i’m   pregnant   ,   but   i’d   like   to   keep   this   between   a   select   few   of   finnick’s   friends   for   now   .   things   seem   to   be   going   well   ,   if   all   goes   to   plan   ,   they   should   come   in   summer   . 

anyway   ,   what’ve   you   been   doing   to   keep   busy   ?   forgive   me   if   i   admit   that   i   don’t   think   fashion   design   is   your   passion   .   but   what   is   ? 

take   care   ,         —   ANNIE

[griefseason]

❛   it's just a dream. ❜ his arms are strong in how they hold @nightlockrebel. her head fits perfectly there under his chin , allowing him to tuck her close to his chest. peeta's good at this ---------- providing himself as a steady rock for katniss to wrap around in her vulnerable state.

it wasn't easy at first when he'd returned to the victor's village after the end of the war. he'd been nervous to sleep in the same house -- scared that he'd sleepwalk his way to killing her in the middle of the night. but he took precautions ----- stayed up until he was unable to keep his eyes open so that he'd sleep deeply ; drank a glass of liquor to stop the tremors ; did as much gardening as he could to clear his mind ; went for frequent therapy &* sessions with doctors in the capitol. they're nineteen now -- he hasn't had an episode in quite some time. he's safe enough to sleep beside her &* not risk strangling her when she wakes him up with her nightmares.

❛   i'm here. ❜ he presses his lips against the crown of her head as he closes his eyes. ❛   deep breaths. focus on my heartbeat. ❜

[brdeverdeen]

"Why does uncle hay avoid us?"

[ unprompted / @nightlockrebel ]

Really, the question that comes out of her mouth is his own fault. She'd been a bit of thing, only up to his knee, when she'd caught him staring at Haymitch across the Hob some years ago, where the man'd been buying liquor, and asked who he was.

“That's your Uncle Hay,” he'd said, absentmindedly. He hadn't expected her to hold onto it. But neither of his girls had much for aunts or uncles, so of course she'd clung to the idea of family.

His hands slow when she asks, just for a moment, before he continues whittling the wood. He'd been trying to craft a small bow for her and had failed once already, his own was too big for her, too hard for her to pull back, and there'd be no learning if she couldn't even practice.

They'd run into Haymitch again today. The two men had made eye contact, for the first time in years, Burdie realized, and as soon as it happened Hay had turned and left.

He doesn't know how to answer the question himself. Was he embarrassed at having hurt Asterid?-the moment that finally made Burdock let go. Was it the Games or was it the loss of his family and Lenore Dove that closed his heart off to everyone else?

Burdie sighs and reaches out to brush a loose strand of hair behind Katniss's ear. “Scared of losin' more people, probably.” It's the only thing he'd been able to come up with over the years. “I think that's a story best saved for when you're a bit older, little darlin'.” He gives her a quick smile and returns to the bow in his hand and begins humming a slow tune.

Burdock doesn't know a good age to discuss it all. She knows about the games, of course, of the harm they did and the way they tore families apart. He'd taken her with when he delivered game and berries to weeping families and clung tightly to both of his girls after each reaping, grateful that they weren't old enough to have their names in just yet.

He knew he'd need to be careful, to understand not to repeat his words in certain company. Burdock looked off where, miles and miles away from where they sat, most of his family lay buried in a quiet spot in the wood and knew he wasn't quite ready to raise those ghosts.

He'd start slow. Haymitch and Lenore Dove's story would take time to get to, but he softly begins singing a song for them anyway:

“And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, “Lenore?” This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, “Lenore!” Merely this and nothing more.”

[svjetllost]

She turned the stick in one hand, slow and steady, shaving it down with the knife until it started to resemble a spear. It wouldn’t win any points for craftsmanship; it was too rough and too splintered, but it could pierce skin. It could do damage. And that was the point.

Going back into an arena was already a sick joke. But what twisted the knife even deeper was how hard it had become to pretend she didn’t care. It used to be easier, looking out for herself, trusting no one, getting through it alone. But now?

“You’d do better with a knife,” she said quietly, dropping the blade between them. “Short, close-range. Something solid in your hand when things go bad.”

She set the spear aside and scooted closer until their shoulders pressed together. Reached out and gently took Katniss’s hand, calloused fingers curling around hers like she could pass strength through skin.

“Go for the side, liver, kidneys. It’s quick. Cleaner, if you’re lucky. And only if we get separated.” Her thumb brushed lightly against Katniss’s knuckles before she let go, almost reluctantly.

Leaning back on her hands, she tipped her head toward the sky, cold stars overhead, too distant to matter. Then her gaze shifted, catching Katniss in her peripheral. The firelight traced soft gold along her cheek.

“You’re not gonna go off-script, are you, Girl on Fire?”

There was a flicker of a smile then. Small. Almost shy. Like a secret meant just for her.

@nightlockrebel liked for the shippy starter!

[wormholxtreme]

@nightlockrebel | For a canon post rebellion starter...as if we need more threads XDD

It had been months, months picking through the rubble with Delly and Madge. Months trying to scavenge what was left of the town. Bodies charred beyond recognition. Peeta tried to stomach the ashes where the bakery once stood, but those who were left in twelve took turns for each other.

He didn't tell Katniss. She was often locked in the house next door, fireplace only lit because Greasy Sae made sure of it. Peeta himself focused on feeding the survivors. Baked goods and breads to sustain those who were left. As the weeks went on though, he watched her. Watched as Katniss took steps into the woods and came back with game.

Now, the cold snap of autumn floated through the meadow. Trees starting to turn those beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange. She was right, orange was still his favorite color. And it was no more breathtaking than as a backdrop as she emerged from the woods when the sun started to go down behind the mountains and the stars sprinkled in the purpling sky above.

Winter was around the corner, sure to be cold and unforgiving in the empty spaces that their little district use to house. He doubted Katniss was thinking much of firewood, knew Haymitch would let the liquor warm him instead of flame. So naturally, Peeta planned ahead.

The stump in the backyard served the perfect chopping block. The warmth of activity and his leather jacket started to make him sweat. He pulled it off, revealing the red and black flannel shirt underneath. Strong, heavy swings, and within a short time, the fire wood was piling up.

[wormholxtreme]

@nightlockrebel | plotted for some jelly stuff

The ache in his shoulder was lessening. All the medicine in the Capitol had him almost completely healed within a week. The miracles that happened deep in the city where the districts were just climbing out of the grave. Another press conference, another announcement of implementing the next stage in Peeta's plans for the open commerce between districts.

A woman stood in front of him, the lights of the mirror outlining her figure in a halo. Dark hair rolled down her back in tight braids. She dabbed a sponge across his cheek, giving him reminders of his talking points. Finally she tweaked his lapel before smoothing her palm over it, lingering against his chest above his heart.

Peeta's head tilted, seeing Katniss appear in the doorway. His eyes widened, a special shine to them the moment he spotted her. The smile on his lips touching his gaze as he slipped past the woman and head over to her.

Immediately, his hands reached her hips, grounding himself with her presence. "You didn't have to come. I know how much you hate the cameras."