katniss everdeen x g/n reader
a/n: i haven’t written in forever but the katniss x reader hashtag is lacking so i wanna add to it
wc: 1.7k
—
You had known there was something special about Katniss since the second you laid eyes on her. Whether that was because she was slowly becoming the mockingjay or the love of your life, you weren’t quite sure. What you did know was that this war was becoming increasingly dangerous, and your ability to protect Katniss was becoming smaller.
Being from district 4, you thrived in the quarter quell arena. Well you would have if the entire plan wasn’t based around ensuring her safety. And once again, that was difficult considering Katniss was a danger to herself.
“Haymitch wants to talk to you,” the danger herself spoke, startling you. You nodded and hopped off the medical bed you called home for a few days.
During those final moments before everything went black, Katniss had been metres away from you. Bow narrowed to the dark heavens above, fierce look as always. You could see the wire half hazardously warped around the tip. You knew what she was doing. She could’ve gotten killed.
In a moment of pure stupidity, you screamed for her, already taking steps towards the taller woman whose heart belonged to you.
Then nothing. But if the scars covering your arm gave you any indication to what happened, you knew it wasn’t good.
“What does he need?” You asked. Katniss was in a white long sleeve shirt that you couldn’t help but stare at. She looked good. Really good.
“I don’t know,” she was looking everywhere but at you, hands too busy fidgeting with themself, “said he just needed you down in the communications room now that you’re doing better. Probably some sort of job.”
“Alright, thanks Kat.” She grinned ever so slightly at the nickname. You were the only one to use it and frankly, she hated it at first. It was Katniss or nothing. But in the days leading up to the 75th Hunger Games, and during, the name had become endearing. She would never admit it but it made her feel some way.
When you reached Haymitch, Finnick was with him. He greeted you with a smile before pulling you in for a hug. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, y/n.”
He was your best friend growing up. Practically a brother. Nearly losing each other had unfortunately become apart of the relationship.
“What did you need?” You got straight to the point. Haymitch pulled a chair up, gesturing for you to sit down. He caught you up to speed on what you missed since you had been recovering. Finnick refused to say anything, claiming you ‘had other things to worry about’. All that did was frustrate you but he wouldn’t budge.
Peeta and Joanna were taken. So was Annie. The war was waging and 12 had been bombed. You attempted to keep your composure but couldn’t. Snow would stop at nothing to ruin the districts, the people. Katniss. They all knew the risks but did they truly know the extent of what he would do?
The meeting lasted 20 minutes max, then you were dismissed. You didn’t need to go back to medical. You were assigned a room. Your stomach was grumbling.
You went to Katniss instead.
You managed to find her through Prim and were able to score yourself a moment alone in her room. “Hey.”
Katniss turned, lips tugging slightly. Getting her to give you a real smile was like playing hopscotch without the lines. Jump rope without the rope. Soccer without the ball. You get the point.
“I heard about district 12.” The two of you were always blunt. Beating around the bush only wasted time and energy, and you both knew it was better to say what you meant.
“Yeah,” she spoke, voice quieter this time. Katniss wasn’t one for emotions. You learned that early on.
“I’m not going to give you some bullshit apology you’ve heard from a dozen of others,” you started, lessening the gap between you two, “but I know you’re not okay. Sure, I haven’t known you as long as your sister, or Gale, but I can see through you Kat. Let someone help, please.”
She stared at the ground, quiet and unmoving. You just sighed and stepped back, heading for the door. “Look, I just care okay? Really. My room is D1316.”
With that, you left. If only you could take her by the shoulders and scream it into her that you cared. You needed her. She was it for you.
—
It was getting late and the book you picked up from Prim wasn’t keeping your attention. Sleep seemed like the way to go. Besides, Katniss never showed and your eyes were beginning to droop.
Curling into your uncomfortable bunk once the lights turned out, you shut your eyes. Pictures flashed behind your eyelids. Old memories of Finnick and you, fishing and swimming in the lake. Finnicks Game. Yours. The quarter quell. Seeing Katniss for the first time. Seeing her, and Finnick immediately making a joke about you wanting her.
You could have ended him right there for that comment alone. Except it ended up being true. And the more you guys interacted the more you hated that she got under your skin. And she didn’t even need to do anything special to do so.
You tossed and turned and kicked your blanket off. You couldn’t sleep. Because now she was in your head. She did it so easily and it irritated you.
A memory floated to your brain and you began to go over the details. Katniss drug you to the pond of water, you half unconscious but you remember her strained voice. Then you were submerged under the cold surface. The pain from the poison washing off. Finnick was there. Peeta too. But all you saw was her.
Her hand slipped over your cheek, your forehead, your other cheek. Ridding your skin of the burn. Then her thumb crossed your bottom lip and you were sure it didn’t need to be washed but you didn’t mind. It felt like the world had faded away. The war was over. It was just you and her and she was taking care of you. But like everything else, it abruptly ended and you were forced back to reality.
You rolled towards the wall as another memory came back. One you found yourself replaying quite often since you’ve been conscious.
During the down time between sections of the arena, when Joanna met up with the rest of you guys, Katniss and you were sat on a rock. You ran your fingers through the sand, getting pieces under your nails. Her leg was pressed against yours, the sun beamed over your skin. Katniss spoke first.
“What’re you going to do? When being allies doesn’t work. We can’t all win.” She was looking you in the eye. Which was rare for her.
You just smiled. “I’ll go out knowing I did what I needed to. Protected who I needed.” It was a double meaning. Katniss would assume Finnick, and that would be true but it was also about her. Not just due to your feelings but because that was the plan that she didn’t know about. Their only goal was to protect her. And that’s what you would do. No matter what.
“Finnick wouldn’t do it.” She said firmly. She was probably right. You might beg him to do it to save himself but he couldn’t.
“If not him, then someone else. I couldn’t kill him. Or you. So someone will have to make that decision,” you explained. You began to draw in the sand. A house with a tree. A dog and a couple.
“I won’t kill you.” She reassured, like you needed it. At that moment you couldn’t tell if it was a lie or not.
You faced the door after another roll. Another memory coming with you. Someone was over top of you. You felt warmth on your neck. A hand maybe? Your hair tugged and for a moment the bright light above dimmed and the persons face appeared. Katniss. Her eyes full of terror as she smiled. A real one. The only one you’ve seen.
The warmth from your neck moved to your face and it was then that you confirmed it was her hand. They were rough from using her bow but you didn’t care. You felt protected under her grasp. “Kat…” You tried to speak but only a squeak came out.
She shushed you, sitting by your side now. You don’t remember much more to that as you had been in and out of consciousness still. You wondered how long she had stayed. How long her hand rested upon you.
Sleep eventually came however did not stay long. The door to your room creeped open, causing you to jump up, your instincts kicking in. “It’s me…sorry.”
Katniss snuck in, shutting the door and standing in the middle of your room. “What is it?”
She hesitated. Her hair was messed up and shirt hanging loosely off her shoulders. “Nightmare?” You continued. She nodded ever so slightly. You all had nightmares. It came with being a ‘victor’. But Katniss hadn’t opened up about them with you.
“Do you wanna come here?” You motioned towards your bed. She answered by doing so. Both of you leaned against the metal wall in silence, bodies so close to each other they could’ve melted into one.
“It was my first games,” Katniss started after a minute, “you were there.”
You hummed in response. You wouldn’t be here if you had been.
“We ran into each other. You didn’t move. You didn’t run. You just stared at me,” she went on, face turning to the ceiling. You watched her features morph into a look of fear.
“I grabbed your sword and killed you without hesitation.”
You didn’t have a response. So you grabbed her hand and squeezed, offering some form of support. “Can I stay the night?”
You nodded. Maybe a little too quick. But lied down, ushering her to come with. Her head found your chest and you weaved a hand into her hair.
“Goodnight.” She whispered.
“Goodnight Kat, I’ll keep you safe.” You whispered back. You weren’t sure where this would take your relationship but you didn’t mind it.
