#everlark fanfiction

Mon, 30 May 2022 12:50:17

Author:@taylerwrites

Prompt: Hey guys, my birthday is on 27th May but i decided to send the prompt early on so you have plenty of time to work your magic :)

I just want an Everlark fic/ficlet (i wont mind it being a multi-chap XD) which is set up in the Star Wars universe. You can follow any dynamic, any plot, movie anything! I just want it to be a smutty, badass piece of work with Older Peeta (5 or more years older) and HEA! (gonna be HEA if its longer)

So bring on the action, battles, romance and smut!! [Submitted by @sparklingdust4612]

Rating:E

Summary: Katniss lets her thoughts wander about the Mandalorian she’s been stuck with for weeks.

Author’s Notes: Happy birthday, Stella! Word Count~ 1.1k+
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She’s been running for months now, hopping from planet to planet only by the mere chance someone was willing to let a desert rat onto their ship. Nearly a month has passed since she got stranded on Tatooine—an absolute backwater planet—after her last transport decided to dump her off and leave her behind.

Katniss knows she’s overextended her stay because she can’t leave the cantina during the day without worrying that glimmering beskar armor and a T-shaped visor will meet her outside. Sleep practically clings to her like a second skin, but she doesn’t dare close her eyes—she can’t.

So she sits in the corner of the cantina, using the last of her credits to order something strong. She doesn’t even realize that her eyelids begin to feel heavy, steadily blurring out the dim lights around her while she waits for her drink. Luckily, Katniss catches herself before her head hits the table, blinking away the exhaustion.

She should stay awake. She needs to stay awake—

~~~~~

Her luck runs out that day, and she’s disappointed that she made it easy for him—how he’d walked into the cantina and scooped up her sleeping form out of the dusty booth without destroying half the place in the process.

When she’d woken up to find herself tied down to his co-pilot seat, she cursed him out in every word of huttesse she could think of. Although, he’s probably used to it by now because he blatantly ignored her, only talking to her when he warned they were going into hyperspace.

That was several weeks ago. Now, Katniss finds herself stranded on another planet that’s more green and vibrant than Tatooine, and this time, she’s stuck with the Mandalorian because his rust-bucket for a ship decided it didn’t want to fly anymore.

She’s sitting on the landing dock, twirling around a blaster that he gave to her solely for emergencies while he left to search for a mechanic—to say that she’d been a little surprised when he handed it to her is an understatement.

Although he’s a lot nicer than she first gave him credit for, he’s always very serious that it’s often hard to pinpoint if he’s merely tolerating her existence until he can get rid of her. It’s not like he goes out of his way to talk to her for her to assume otherwise. Over the past weeks, the most she’s learned about him is that his hair is blonde and curly when she had accidentally walked in on him while he was using the fresher.

Of course, it was too dark for her to see anything else, and she’d quickly closed the door before he could say anything that would embarrass them both. Yet, she’s curious about what his voice would have sounded like if he had.

Is it deep or raspy behind the scratchiness of his modulator? Speaking of…

Katniss looks off in the direction where he’d disappeared into the thick mangrove hours ago, wondering if she should go out looking for him (mainly because she’s hot and sticky from the humidity) despite him ordering her to stay put. But after another hour rolls by, she heads off in search of something to help cool her off.

Luckily, unlike desert planets, there isn’t any water shortage on one that sees rain three times a day, so it doesn’t take her very long to find a small pool next to a large waterfall. She sets her blaster down on a rock, followed by her wraps until she’s left in nothing but her plain underwear.

The water is icy cold and laps gently at her feet when she steps in. But she can’t complain as the heat from the day slowly washes away the further she walks into the pool and finds a ledge to sit on.

Her thoughts drift back to the Mandalorian, incessant and intruding even though she shouldn’t be thinking about him while wet and naked. Still, she thinks about his hands as she runs hers along her neck. She knows they’re probably rough and scarred from years of hunting—aware that they’re big enough to encase her waist.

Katniss sighs, sinking further into the water while her hands smooth over her breasts and down her stomach.

She wishes she could see him without violating ancient laws that hid him from the rest of the world. Instead, she’s left with just her imagination. Katniss pictures what he might look like under the heavy beskar, knowing that the broadness of his shoulders isn’t only due to his armor but also from the way his job has shaped him.

Her hands travel lower, fingers brushing through the sticky slick between her legs that’s evidence of what the Mandalorian does to her even when he’s not around. A breathy moan slips past her lips as she uses her middle finger to circle her clit, slow, precise swirls that make her heart skip.

Except, she frowns at how small hers are compared to the ones she’s caught herself staring at far too many times. They don’t fill her nearly enough, not like his would—thick and unrelenting.

Katniss’s breath hitches from pinching the sensitive peak of her nipple, just until she feels a slight sting. Then it slips out, a tiny thing that’s only audible to her ears: “Mando,” she chokes even though that’s not his real name.

Does he have a name? If so, does he remember it? What would it sound like rolling off of her tongue…?

“Dirty,” he’d tell her for thinking such lewd thoughts about him. Which she probably is for getting so worked up over a man she knows nothing about.

A man who’s so big that he makes her feel small—it’s enough to make her shudder, body vibrating from the chill of the water and her frayed nerves.

Fantasies aren’t nearly enough to sate the longing that swirls deep in her chest. Yet she’s slipping over the edge of ecstasy before taking her next breath—little moans of the Mandalorian’s artificial name spill from her lips like the waterfall that rushes into the pool around her waist.

Her orgasm makes her feel light, floaty even, while leaning against the stone ledge to slow her heart rate.

She doesn’t realize her eyes have fallen shut until they flutter open, and she’s startled to find gleaming beskar peaking out through the mangrove across the pool. The Mandalorian’s chest heaves as if he ran here, though he probably did to find her.

Katniss feels glued to that moment, and the longer she stares at her reflection in his visor, she’s suddenly struck with the mortifying realization that he’d seen her cum—that he heard her cry out Mando so intimately.

On top of that, he came alone, meaning he didn’t find a mechanic and that she’s stuck on this desolate planet with him for who knows how long.

Great.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #birthday #spring #taylerwrites #submission #prompt

Fri, 27 May 2022 13:06:04

Author:@mega-aulover

Prompt: Hi! My birthday is May 25th, and I’d love a fic with Everlark sneaking around in a secret relationship and Katniss standing up for Peeta to his mother when she is hiding as she attacks him! I always love the idea of our girl just not being able to keep her mouth shut when Mrs. Mellark is involved and I’d love to see something like that! Thank you SO much :). [submitted by @albinokittens300]

Rating:M

Author’s Note: For@albinokittens300. Happy Birthday! Thank you to @norbertsmom for her beta skills and patience.
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Katniss Everdeen’s life read like one of those steamy trashy novels her sister Prim always hid in their room, not realizing they were easily found. The ill-conceived tropes of enemies to lovers were all rooted in teenage angst.

“Katniss,” Peeta muttered right before his lips kissed her own, his large masterful hands gripping her hips, as he pressed against her fabric-covered center.

“Peeta,” Katniss muttered in between kisses; she ground her hips into his. The blanket beneath her was soft and warm. She wished she had the ability to vanish the clothing barrier between them.

There was a time that the boy in her arms was the enemy. So hated and despised for his blonde hair, popularity amongst the school kids, broad shoulders, muscular arms, and incredible blue eyes. Now she appreciated all of his attributes, but she especially had an affinity for his large hands. Peeta worshiped her body with his large, wonderful hands.

His warm lips were gliding down her neck, nipping at the tender flesh. Katniss gasped at the sensation of his straight white teeth scraping along the column of her neck.

They were once enemies that exchanged frosty glances in the hallowed halls of District Twelve’s high school. They were enemies in that most ancient way that the Montagues and the Capulets would have died for, and the Hatfields and the Mccoys duked it out in civil disobedience over. So hated that the thin line between love and hate snapped and one day a heated argument became a passionate kiss for dominance.

That kiss led to an awakening and a surge of hormones. What was once distasteful, was now attractive, and what was once unthinkable, was now mouthwateringly appetizing. That rush of lustful abandon somehow morphed into something deeper and sure, as steady and as unmoving as the mountains that surrounded District Twelve.

Yet here they were in the dark underneath the apple tree in his yard, under a symphony of brightly shining stars, making out like rabid beasts during another secret midnight rendevous.

“Peeta,” Katniss whispered into his ear.

“Katniss,” Peeta, looked down at her, his body rhythmically rubbing against hers.

Her womb felt tight, desperate for the sweet release only Peeta could bring her to. She wound her legs tighter around his waist as they pressed their most intimate parts over the other seeking the friction. Until she was rocketed into ecstasy.

Katniss gasped as she came.

Peeta became still watching her fall apart and float back to reality. He held her tenderly. Katniss noticed the bulge in his pants.

“You didn’t,” Katniss whispered.

“It was all about you,” he said tenderly, moving them so that they lay side by side, snuggled closely. Katniss rubbed her nose into the curve of his neck.

This was once her enemy and now her beloved treasure.

“When are we going to tell everyone?”

Katniss sighed at Peeta’s question. This was the current problem, the reason they argued.

They were graduating soon and the real world was looming. Katniss was unsure about the reception they would receive if they made their relationship public.

Peeta said what was once a secret could no longer be kept hidden. Peeta insisted they had a right to strike out on their own and make a life for themselves.

Katniss struggled with this. Her heart was given to him and there was no way of taking it back. If they ended because of the prejudices and Peeta was forced to choose another she would become a soulless beast, hollowed out by the pain of loss. Grief was, after all, the absence of where love had found purchase. There was no solution she could see for their immediate future if they came out as a couple.

They had survived their last Reaping and it was time to leave behind childish pursuits and take the mantle of adulthood. There had been a time in her youth when Katniss had not wanted to pursue romantic or physical pleasures as the majority of her youthful brethren had.

She’d been a stalwart of pious purity for selfish reasons. Then Peeta collided with her self erected monument and it had tumbled and crumbled to rubbish.

“Katniss.” Peeta turned his face to see her. She could see the question on his face.

“I,” Katniss said unable to come up with another word.

“Katniss,” Peeta gently touched her face. “I don’t want to pressure you. However, I just want to be able to break free from the expectations my family has for me, because of you. I want you and only you. If you decide you do not want me, I’ll understand. But know I will never find contentment with another…I could never…”

Katniss understood. She pressed her lips up to his, it was a short sweet kiss. They weren’t going to be able to see each other for two weeks.

“I’m going to miss you,” Peeta said, holding her close.

“I better get home. Mrs. Porath has babies fast,” Katniss said in a clipped manner. She didn’t want to sound that way but she didn’t know what to do. She wanted Peeta, needed him much the way nature needed bees to ensure survival.

“Okay,” Peeta said. “How about we meet under the red tree in the meadow, after all of the graduation hullabaloos die down.”

“There won’t be much of a party at my house. My maw will be busy. There are a lot of women ready to give birth.”

“If we come out, you could join me and my family.”

“Peeta, do you think your mother really will allow me to set foot in your home?”

“Katniss, I don’t care about what she thinks. I just want you.”

“But you don’t know what you’ll be losing.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Peeta said, running his hand through his golden ash-blonde hair. “I understand what your mother went through…I get the risks.”

“Peeta, your mother would kick you out! The Merchant community would shun you the way they shunned my mother. And the only job available to you would be working in the mines.”

“Katniss.”

“I’m not willing to let you take that risk.”

“I understand you’re afraid. I know it’s easier baking a cake than working in the mines. I also know you’re petrified of losing me like you did your father.” He put up his hands to keep her from interrupting. “But these are risks I’m willing to take to be with you.”

“I can’t lose you.”

“You won’t, you just have to have faith in me, in us.”

Katniss slowly stood and brushed down her shirt. There were unshed tears in her eyes. Peeta knew better than to push Katniss.

“I’ll see you at midnight, after graduation?” he asked gently, wanting to hold Katniss and reassure her that everything would work out.

Katniss nodded without making eye contact.

She left with her head cast low. Peeta was left standing in his backyard watching her leave. The moon and the stars above were the silent witnesses to a love so forbidden that it was doomed to fail unless perchance there was a miracle.

In his room, Peeta silently sat in his bed, his face in his hands.

Peeta was afraid of losing Katniss. He wanted their relationship to exist in the open; he was tired of hiding. What they had was pure and genuine. He didn’t know of many happily married couples on the Merchant side. They were all quietly suffering in miserable silence. Outwardly they showed a united front, but privately they could not stand each other. Marriages amongst the merchants were cold, heartless contracts for financial gain.

Peeta did not want what his parents had. He wanted a marriage where there was genuine trust, respect, and love. He knew he could have that with Katniss.

In the time they had formed a relationship, Peeta learned what they shared went deeper than the paltry surface skimming physical relations of his friends. Peeta and Katniss were a unit, one flesh and of one mind.

They stood against the storms that battered their existence as a couple and they sheltered themselves in each other’s arms for months. Peeta nurtured the relationship much the way mothers held their babies close to their hearts. Now it was time to give birth to what they had fostered for so long, and sadly Katniss did not want to bring it out into the light.

Peeta longed to have a future with her. It did not matter to him if Katniss didn’t want to have a Toasting or children. Peeta solely wanted to be with her, in the open, the way her parents had been in the district. He desired the sweetness of being her one person in life she looked to as her confidant, as her friend, and as her equal.

Katniss was afraid, and rightly so. There were mechanisms in place to pry them apart. The mattress across from him squeaked. Peeta looked to find his brother Rye’s pale blue eyes staring at him.

“So you and Katniss?” Rye’s voice said softly, breaking the quiet in the room.

They needed to speak quietly; their mother Helen was a light sleeper.

Peeta’s first thought was to deny. He could potentially besmirch Katniss’s reputation in the district. Sadly, if a Merchant girl was found with a guy from the Seam, she was quietly married off quickly. If a girl from the Seam was found with a Merchant she was immediately cast as a woman without virtue. Katniss’s business depended on her ability to remain virtuous in the eyes of the entire district.

“No,” Peeta whispered with enough emphasis hoping Rye would believe him.

“Don’t bother denying it,” Rye whispered. “I’ve been watching you sneak out for weeks to meet her.”

“Rye,” Peeta tried to communicate to his brother to drop the subject.

“Peet,” Rye said quietly. “I’m not like mom. I know what will happen to Katniss if I say something. She isn’t like the girls who see you as a meal ticket. Or the others who are in it for some fun. If Katniss is with you, it’s because she’s serious about you.”

Peeta wasn’t sure what to make of what Rye said. His brothers were a source of childhood torment. They took pleasure in making sure he suffered. Rye, who was only a year older than Peeta, worshiped Wheaton, their older brother. Rye did everything the eldest Mellark brother did. As kid, Wheaton was a righteous prick who wholeheartedly believed the nonsense the Capitol spouted about the Seam being inferior.

Wheaton did everything their mother bid, except marry the woman their mother selected for him.

“I know you guys are terrified about mom, but you shouldn’t be. Wheaton married Drucilla and mom couldn’t do anything about it.”

Their mother, Helen, was a cruel cold woman, whose life revolved around profit. She was a foe to everyone who she believed to be beneath her. Her proclivity for misdeeds had aptly garnered her ‘the witch’ as a moniker within the confines of the district. His mother had, in essence, alienated the vast majority of the populace, including some of the Peacekeepers.

The need for bread was the only reason the bakery had a clientele at all. Peeta was sure that if there had been another bakery in the District, people would flock to that one instead, even if the prices were expensive or if the bread wasn’t as good.

Rye sat up. The mattress squeaked and both of their eyes flew to the door. After a space of time, they released the breaths they held.

“Look, I know I tortured you as a kid, but we’re adults now… and I’m sorry for being an unapologetic moron,” Rye said, then he shrugged. “To be fair, I’ve never believed the vitriol the Capitol wants us to believe. If we were better, we wouldn’t need to buy Katniss’s game meat. We would be as rich as the Capitol. No,” Rye stopped speaking to glance at the room. “I hate to say this, but Wheaton is right.”

There was one dresser in the room and two beds. Each one of them had two drawers to put all of their worldly possessions in. Wheaton was the privileged one who grew up with his own room. When he left their mother took the room for herself. She slept there now.

“What is Wheaton right about?” Peeta expected Rye to spout some stupid pro-Capitol sentimentality.

“He said, and I quote, ‘We’re all the same to the Capitol. They see us as an outlying district filled with barbaric customs.’ He’s right, District Twelve is made up of poor folk trying to get by,” Rye quietly said.

Peeta raised an eyebrow, although the words Rye spoke were true, He doubted that his brother Wheaton had a change of heart and actually said them.

“If you love Katniss, be with her. Mom will change her tune, believe me. Katniss is seen as the golden girl of the district. Everyone wants to be her, and you and I both know half the guys in the district want to be with her.”

Peeta knew this was true. Katniss had no idea the effect she had on people. She pulled her family out of starvation at the age of eleven. Began her own business and was, by far, the most profitable. Her game meat was prized amongst the Merchants. Not even Gale, her hunting partner, garnered that reverence.

“Look, I wasn’t going to say anything, but I heard mom say that she was going to sign you up to the Peacekeeping Forces.”

“What?” Peeta sat up. This was news to him. “Can she do that?”

“She can; you haven’t graduated yet, so technically you’re still a minor.”

“Why would she do that?” Peeta’s mind was reeling. All of his hopes and the things he dreamed about went up in flames. He mourned the loss of Katniss and his future. As a Peacekeeper, he’d be sent to another district, and he wouldn’t be able to get married. The bulk of his youth would be spent under Snow’s command. It was a frightening perspective.

“Apparently there is a bonus given to the family for their sacrifice to the nation’s security.”

Hearing about the money made sense. Helen would do it, if it meant making a profit. Peeta’s thoughts became dark.

“Peeta,” Rye called out to him.

Peeta shook his head angrily.

“Peeta, there’s a solution,” Rye said.

Peeta wasn’t given to violence, but there were a few things that made him angry. The thought of his freedom being taken away was one of them. Peeta clutched the edge of the mattress to stop himself from falling into an abyss. Taking a deep breath, Peeta pushed his enraged sentiments aside.

Peeta began to think logically. Helen was a practical woman. She was always very thrifty. The woman she’d handpicked for Wheaton was rich, Wheaton bucked their mother and married a girl with no prospects. In the end, the girl their mother picked for Wheaton ran away with the old Head Peacekeeper Cray.

Looking at Rye he said, “I have to find a job, Rye. You’re inheriting the bakery and our mother thought this would be the most economical solution that would result in compensation for the loss of profit.”

“This is like our mother got into her head that I should learn to do sculpting,” Rye chuckled.

“She thought if you learned about sculpting, it would help you stay out of trouble.”

“All I wanted to do was play outside with Wheaton.”

“I began to eavesdrop during the lessons.”

“You’re the brother with natural artistic ability, like our great Uncle Biale.”

“He never married,” Peeta said. Their Uncle had to join the Peacekeepers in order to make a life for himself because there had been no choice for him. He’d come home after his time was up and quietly lived the rest of his life in quiet dignity as he often remarked.

“Our great uncle was unique. Mother actually mourned his loss,” Rye mused.

“I think mother wants me to have a great adventure outside of the District like our great uncle,” Peeta sighed. It was wrong of Helen, but in her own twisted way, she was trying to do the best for Peeta. “I get that there are only a handful of ways we can find employment, but I don’t want to become a Peacekeeper.”

“I can’t see you marrying someone just for a job. Especially now that you’re with the girl of your dreams.”

Rye was right, Peeta was in love with Katniss and he wanted to be with her and no one else. “I thought about this; I could work for the train station.”

“That’s seasonal work at best.” Those who didn’t have a full-time job at the train station worked from the fall until spring. Their main job was maintaining the tracks. But that left them unemployed in the spring and summer.

“I could open up a booth in the Hob, make myself an oven, and trade for Tessera grain. Make bread.”

“Mother would kill you.”

“That’s why I thought of the mines, it’s hard, honest work. And this way I wouldn’t have to join the Peacekeepers.”

“You’d really join the few Merchants who work in the mines to help Katniss and her family?”

“Yeah,” Peeta confirmed. “I’ve got to find a way to convince our mother that I’d be better off working for the mines,” Peeta said. He briefly thought of telling Katniss his predicament, though he tossed the idea out.

Peeta knew Katniss would swiftly marry him as a way to save him from becoming a Peacekeeper. Nonetheless, he didn’t want to get married that way. He wanted Katniss to choose him. Peeta wanted to hear Katniss say she wanted him.

“There is another way,” Rye said, scooting closer to Peeta. “I was trying to keep this quiet, but you should know in a week I’m going to tell our parents I don’t want the bakery.”

“What?” Peeta was shocked. The bakery was everything to Peeta. It was their connection to the past, to the Mellark heritage.

“Shocker, right,” Rye chuckled. “I’m not built for this loathing-filled, masculine toxicity the Capitol wants to extrapolate from us. I found something I want -” Rye’s eyes took a hard silverish glint in the moonlight. “Fred Wilkerson is going to make me his apprentice. I’m going to paint houses for a living. I enjoy the work and there is something gratifying about decorating houses whether they are here or in the Seam.” Rye sighed, “Fred is getting older and he can’t paint anymore. He never-” Rye gripped the edge of the bed frame as he quickly formulated what he wanted to say next. “He lost everything, just like me.”

Peeta processed the information as he watched the moonlight bathed his brother’s dirty blonde hair as it fell over his forehead. Fred lost his only child to the Hunger Games. It was a travesty the twelve-year-old boy died within seconds at the Cornucopia. His wife died of grief three months after their son’s death. It was another example of how the divide between the folk of the Seam and those who lived in the Merchant quarter was nonexistent. Fred, like many widows and widowers, never bothered remarrying. He lived his life quietly.

“I will never love anyone else-” Rye said brokenly. “Like you, I fell for someone from the Seam. They were Reaped and I couldn’t do anything to help them.”

Peeta had no idea that his brother had been in love with someone from the Seam. The divide between the Seam and the Merchants was ridiculous. To Peeta, love was love. Love did not care for limitations of time and space; it wasn’t ephemeral. True love existed and bloomed without any prodding. It was a miracle that had to be protected.

Foolishly he had nearly tossed it away, the careless way a person might throw out a mismatched sock. Peeta loved Katniss as a child but loathed the boy she befriended at twelve. So he forced his heart to detest the one thing he valued because society said they were to be enemies. Stupidly, Peeta convinced himself that boy was his enemy because he took Katniss away from him.

For years he repressed his heart and senselessly followed the belief extolled by his mother and society. Until one day when his heart took over and he found himself kissing the lips, he had once dreamt of. Soft plump lips that molded to his as if designed for his lips alone.

Katniss’s innocent wide-eyed stare after their shared kiss was like a slap in the face. And his apology tumbled out of his soul like a gush of spring water from a freshly dug well. Peeta promised Katniss and himself he would never allow cynicism to rule his gentle heart again. Thankfully, she accepted his sincere words.

Peeta didn’t realize the bond Katniss and Gale formed was out of necessity. Jealousy ate at his heart until he learned that Katniss only beheld Gale as a brother. He was a kindred spirit who she could rely on to spot her safety in the wilds beyond the fence.

It bothered Peeta greatly how close they were. Katniss, being true and loyal, defended her friend. He was embarrassed to see how unfairly he judged her when they were enemies.

“Now that you’re safe from the Reaping and I no longer need to volunteer in your place, I decided I am going to take my chance and give you yours.”

Peeta was taken aback by his brother’s admission. All of his life he didn’t think he was needed. Yet here was his brother confessing he would have volunteered as Tribute if Peeta would have been reaped. Peeta questioned who Rye’s Seam lover was.

“I want to do what I want and I want you to be with who you want, while I still hold breath in my chest.” Rye gave Peeta a sincere open gaze. “I know you love her, you’ve loved her for a long time and hid it, but now that you have your chance, don’t let it slip through your fingers.” Rye wiped his face before slipping back into his bed.

Peeta nodded as the message was clear, do everything in his power to give himself and Katniss the future they deserved.

Rye’s announcement that he was leaving the bakery was met with cries of anguish and tantrums from his mother. Rye stood his ground. Peeta was glad for Rye when he struck out. His mother and father were now forced to consider him as the sole owner of the bakery. Oddly enough, Peeta saw his father relieved when Rye gave his announcement.

His father was a quiet man who kept to himself. Peeta had only seen his father put his foot down once in his life. And that was the day his great uncle had come looking for a place to stay. As a child, Peeta had been gobsmacked at how his father became enraged. He’d never seen it since. If anything, after the incident, his father became even more docile.

When Peeta graduated, he did so with relief. His entire family celebrated his good fortune. Helen acted as if she’d planned Peeta inheriting the bakery as if it was her idea all along. The only problem was not being able to see Katniss because of the pomp of the graduation. Many couples arranged a Toasting now that they were free from school. The bakery was busier than ever.

It was a joyous time in the district. The crisp summer sun invigorated the normally downcast district. Everywhere there was a smile. An indescribable twinkle in the eyes. There was a sense of newness. It smelled of hope.

The entire district celebrated the graduation and weddings. Neither Katniss nor Peeta could meet up as they were both occupied. Every day there was a wedding or a humble gathering to celebrate a life that had phased out of the Reaping.

The following week they were meeting in the Meadow under the red sunset maple. Its red leaves swayed gently in the light summer wind. They graduated last week and they had decided to wait to see one another until after all of the celebratory festivities died down.

The warm air rushed around the lithe figure as it approached the tree. The games were finished and the children had a precious week off from school. The Capitol allowed this so that the fallen Tribute’s bodies could be brought back to the districts to be buried.

Katniss quietly approached their meeting place. Thankfully, her mother and sister were out on a call. Katniss was able to sneak out. Her heart was conflicted. She looked up at the darkened sky littered with uncountable twinkling stars. Peeta wanted them to become a couple out in the open. She did not care about losing her reputation. People were going to believe what they wanted to believe. It was Peeta’s future she worried about.

If he came out with her, there could be a chance he would never get the bakery. His Witch of a mother would see to it, even though the bakery belonged to Peeta’s father. Rye was supposed to inherit it, but things happened. And Peeta deserved that chance. Katniss had once thought Peeta was rude, unkind, and like his family. She was surprised to discover he was a good person, generous, sweet, funny, sassy, and someone who tempered the fire she held within her.

In short, Katniss had fallen deeply and irrevocably in love with Peeta Mellark.

Katniss couldn’t live with herself if she allowed him to descend into the mines to work. The mines killed people’s spirits. She’d seen Gale change in the few short years he’d worked in the mines. Katniss didn’t want that for Peeta. She loved him too much.

Katniss took a deep breath, as she gripped the skirt of her dress. The only time she wore a dress was for the reaping. Tonight she dressed with care. She wore an orange dress, his favorite color, and combed her locks to fall softly around her shoulders. Katniss pinched her cheeks as she heard Prim say she did it to make her cheeks appear fresh.

Katniss did this to say goodbye to Peeta. She could not let him waste his shot because of her.

The familiar heavy tread caused Katniss’s heart to wobble in her chest. The familiar ash blonde wavy locks came into view. He smiled at her and it was as if the sun illuminated the semi-darkness.

“Hi,” Peeta greeted.

Katniss took the first step this time, eagerly raising herself up on tiptoe, and placing a kiss on his cheek. She grabbed both his hands. She needed Peeta’s touch to ground her fears. What she was about to do was the most difficult thing in her life.

Peeta’s smile was instantaneous, his blue eyes sparkled. “Hi, I missed you.”

“Peeta,” Katniss said.

“Wait, I have…” he pulled away from her, and from his bag, he produced a blanket and set about making a small fire.

“Peeta,” Katniss said as he worked. She was trying to find a way to end things between them, but she was lost as she watched the way Peeta’s hands worked. He had such large hands with long graceful fingers. One of the things she noticed before they got together romantically was the way his fingers nimbly made flowers with a pastry bag, or out of gum paste. The gum paste flower petals looked so delicate in the palm of his hand. Katniss realized how much she secretly watched him.

It was so easy to be distracted by him. Once the fire got started he pulled out a loaf of bread. “I baked this today, are you hungry?”

Her stomach grumbled much to her mortification.

“Guess you are,” Peeta said good-naturedly.

They sat to eat. The bread was hearty and flavorful, packed with raisins and nuts. Peeta also brought with him her sister’s goat cheese, Mrs. Apple’s cheddar cheese, pork salami made courtesy of the pigs his father kept, and various herbs such as mint, basil, and oregano. He also brought with him dried cranberries and sun-dried tomatoes that were sent in Tesserae. It was a feast. They ate like Kings.

Katniss sat in Peeta’s arms relishing his nearness. She inhaled his cinnamon and dill masculine scent that was so dear to her. She committed to memory the warmth of his embrace, the sturdy strength of his body. She raised her lips to Peeta silently requesting his kisses.

The softness of his familiar sweet tasting mouth, caused her to sigh. Katniss wanted to remember the way his kisses made her feel. The way his mouth moved against hers.

She turned in his arms sitting astride him, wanting to be with him one more time. Her fingers played with the buttons of his shirt.

“Do we have time?” Peet asked.

“Yes,” she whispered, kissing him, and pulling his top lip into her mouth.

Peeta grunted at her action.

Her fingers quickly undid the buttons of his shirt, in between passionate kisses that excited them both. Katniss untucked his shirt, her hands found purchase on the fine nearly white hair of his chest. Her lips traced a path from his lips to his chin, to his clavicle. Peeta’s hands clenched and unclenched at her waist, letting her take the lead. Delightful noises escaped his lips as her fingers played with his flat nipples.

Katniss felt hot, her dress was constricting and she wanted to rip it off. But seeing Peeta’s heated look gave her confidence. She moved back and smiled seductively at him.

She began to slowly undo the front buttons of her dress. Peeta’s eyes became wider as he realized she wore only an orange spaghetti strap slip underneath her dress. Katniss had found the yellow stained silky slip in the Hob and traded for it. She took it and dyed it orange using the barberry shrub she found in the woods and baking powder.

“Katniss, “Peeta croaked. His eyes were blown wide as she stood and shimmied out of her dress. The short slip fell mid-thigh. She pulled up the slip to show him that she’d worn no underwear.

The excitement of the reveal made her wet and achy.

Peeta groaned. A soft garbled word that sounded like a curse fell from his lips.

"I want you to ride my face,” Peeta said as his hands slid up her legs.

Goosebumps erupted on her olive skin as she pictured his mouth on her needy core. Katniss had to force herself to stay on track. She slowly slid down her hands and let go of the fabric to slide down his muscular chest. When her hands reached his belt buckle Peeta’s breathing was harsh. Her own breathing was heightened, and her body trembled with need. There was an aphrodisiac in the act of holding the power when they were intimate.

“You’re killing me, Katniss.”

She laughed softly, because, despite her suave demeanor, her hands trembled with the want to rip his belt off. She bit her bottom lip, giving him a coy look as she slowly unlooped his belt, and unbuttoned the top button, before slowly sliding his zipper down.

The bulge in his pants grew exponentially by the time she finished. She was so wet she was dripping down her thighs.

“Lift your hips,” Katniss instructed as she pulled at his pants.

Peeta eagerly did as she requested. Katniss licked her lips as she caught sight of his member springing free. She shivered as she kneeled, knowing soon he would be snuggly held within her.

Katniss took hold of his cock and admired his girth and length. His skin was velvety smooth as she pumped him. Peeta’s loud groan exploded from his chest when she slipped his weeping tip along her drenched folds.

Katniss levered herself up to slowly sink onto him. The familiar stretch caused them both to moan. Their lips met when he was fully seated within her.

Their lips parted and she held onto his shirt as her plain gray eyes sought his vivid azul eyes that reminded Katniss of the deep cobalt sky that emerged after a long tempest with gray and saxe-hued skies.

Just as he was going to lift her up to ride him, the shrieking sound of Peeta’s mother filled the air.

They froze still joined, eyes wide and filled with terror, as the area was filled with light.

Katniss quickly got up, she couldn’t let his mother find her half-naked and in a compromising position with him.

“Katniss,” Peeta hissed, as he stood. His pants at his knees.

“Help me climb up the tree,” Katniss urged. She didn’t have her shoes on.

Peeta assisted her, as his mother’s voice and the lights got closer. Katniss found a hiding spot just as his mother, Darius the Head Peacekeeper, Peeta’s father, and two other Peacekeepers filled the area.

Peeta was holding his trousers up, “Mother!”

“Don’t you dare call me mother!” His mother yelled.

“Helen,” Peeta’s father, Roy warned. His eyes swept the area.

“He’s out here no doubt getting drunk!” His mother looked around. “Where are they?”

“Mother, this isn’t what it looks like.”

“Don’t you dare lie to me, boy!” His mother spat. “I heard from Amber Smith’s mother, that the entire wrestling team was meeting in the meadow to have a drunken debauchery. I will not have my son become drunk. It’s bad enough that your brother decided to become a painter and quit the bakery. We came into your room to find you and you were gone…and I remembered what Amber Smith told me.”

From her perch, Katniss gasped. Her quiet sound alerted Darius who looked up. His grin instantly became devilish when he recognized her.

“Where are your half-witted friends?” Mrs. Mellark’s beady gaze searched the perimeter.

“Helen,” Roy tried to get her attention.

“Ah, Mrs. Mellark.” One of the junior Peacekeeper’s tried to get Peeta’s mother to stop her triad.

“Mrs. Mellark,” Darius said a little louder.

“Mother really, none of the guys are out here. I don’t drink.” Peeta was trying to calm his mother down.

“You will not start your first day as the owner of Mellark Bakery with a hangover.” Helen Mellark made a move toward Peeta as if she was going to strike him.

Katniss saw red.

Angrily she jumped down from her perch in the tree and landed in the grass in front of Peeta, ready to claw out the woman’s eyes if need be. “Touch him and die!”

Helen Mellark screamed. “Arrest her, she tried to kill me!”

Katniss thought she heard herself growl as she stood before her man.

Helen Mellark jumped back.

“I’ve heard and seen how you treat your boys! You don’t touch him anymore. And if I hear that you lifted so much as an eyebrow at Peeta or say an unkind word towards his person, there will be repercussions!” Katniss was smaller than the woman, but she wasn’t afraid. Bullies have to be taken down a notch or three. And this woman needed to be pinned down like a losing opponent in a wrestling match.

“What are you waiting for… she…,” Helen pointed wildly at Katniss. “She threatened to kill me and accosted my poor innocent son!”

“We can’t,” Darius said.

“Why not!” Helen demanded.

“Because she only threatened to kill you if you hit your son. So as long as you don’t, she won’t. Besides, she’s your kin,” Darius smartly said.

“She ain’t no relation of mine, she’s nothing but another Seam…. ”

“HELEN!” Roy roared, “They’ve had a Toasting!”

Helen then became quiet as her eyes took in the surroundings. The special nut and fruit bread, the fire, the sticks that they used resting on the blanket, the dress Katniss wore.

Katniss went cold as her anger cooled enough to finally catch on to what Darius had suggested. Her plan to walk away from Peeta had gone wildly astray.

“It’ll be okay,” Peeta whispered as he put his shirt around her frame before snaking his arms around her middle and pulling her against his chest.

“Oh…” Helen said.

“Ain’t no use crying over spilled milk. Our boy here got himself hitched to a fine girl,” Roy said, taking out his glasses and wiping them with a handkerchief.

“But Roy, what will…”

Katniss got mad because the woman was so blinded by her stupidity. All Peeta’s mother was concerned about was appearances. It dawned on Katniss, she was good enough to be married to Peeta, even if it was a fake Toasting. Any family would be happy to have her as a daughter-in-law. Katniss didn’t have to be afraid and she could handle this with aplomb and dignity.

“The neighbors will say nothing, because they all trade with me, and they know if they do say something, then I won’t trade with them,” Katniss defended. She stuck her nose in the air and gave Mrs. Mellark an air of superiority. If she was going to be married to Peeta Mellark, she was going to make sure his mother knew things were about to change for the better.

“I reckon they’ll say our son is the brightest boy in the entire district. He got himself an unachievable girl who single-handedly saved her family. And don’t go saying you can’t stand her because just yesterday you were remarking how clever she is…”

Helen opened and closed her mouth.

“Mother, you should know Katniss is a wiz at math; she’s at the top of the class,” Peeta continued, giving a bright smile. “Besides, bringing her game meat to our home will save money….and she has access and knowledge of herbs and edible plants that can keep costs down.”

Then with a quickness that caused Katniss to blink, the woman smiled and cackled. “Well, welcome to the family, daughter.”

“If you folk don’t mind,” Darius said, winking at Katniss.

Katniss scowled at him.

“We better get going. Congratulations and I hope to see you at the Justice building bright and early to fill out the marriage certificate and the paperwork to pass Peeta the bakery.”

“Don’t worry, we will,” Roy said. As soon as the Peacekeepers were gone Roy turned to his wife. “Helen, dear, I think we should leave the children to enjoy their evening.”

Helen raised an eyebrow. And nodded, walking away with Peeta’s father. But as she left Katniss heard the woman say “At least one of my sons isn’t a disappointment.”

Turning to each other they said at the same time.

“I’m sorry Katniss…”

“We haven’t had a real toasting yet…”

“That’s not a problem, Katniss.”

“For what?”

They laughed. It was a relief to finally be out in the open.

“We can always have a private Toasting after we sign the Capitol mandated documents.”

“I guess what we have to do now is tell my mother.”

“That will be the easy part,” Peeta said.

Katniss laughed; she quickly donned her dress and her shoes, while Peeta picked up the remnants of their feast.

“What’s so funny?” Peeta questioned.

“You’re about to discover where the infamous Everdeen’s scowl comes from and where I get my temper.”

“I thought you got that from your dad or Gale?”

“Nope, not from my dad. And just as an FYI, Gale copied my scowl.” Katniss chuckled at his innocent confusion.

They held hands and walked through the Seam. Mrs. Mellark was a cakewalk, her mother, however, was their next hurdle to conquer together.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring #spring 2022 #birthday #mega-aulover #submission #prompt

Wed, 25 May 2022 08:30:53

Author:@hutchhitched

Prompt: modern au everlark smut in a flowery field and katniss and peeta meeting up with their friends with flowers and grass stains [submitted by anonymous]

Rating:E

Author’s Note: When I claimed this, wildflowers in Texas were all over the place. Thanks to the anon who gave me the opportunity to think about them in a little different way.
_______________

Katniss moans softly into Peeta’s mouth as his fingers dip under her shirt. This isn’t supposed to happen—not here, anyway, and not when they’re already late to meet their friends. Somehow, though, she knows it would have happened anyway, especially with the way Peeta looks at her like she’s the best thing he’s ever seen. In spite of everything, Peeta loves her, and he’s never let her own low self-esteem influence how beautiful he thinks she is. For him, she might as well be a goddess. For her, Peeta is everything she didn’t know she needed until she fell in love with him.

“Peeta, we can’t,” she gasps as his hands slide up her back and unhook her bra. When she protests again, he slips his right hand over her breast and squeezes gently before running the pad of his thumb over her hardened nipple and swallowing her groan. “Peeta, we…”

He’s hard against her stomach, ready for her as he always is when they’re alone together. It seems almost cruel to keep him at arm’s length when his own need is so present. In spite of how good it feels, she’s still protesting, but she’s losing the will to resist. After all, she wants him as much as he seems to need her.

“Okay, sweetheart,” he murmurs against her lips. “Okay, I’ll stop if that’s what you really want.”

Almost frantic with emotion, Katniss wraps her arms around his neck and tugs him to her in a passionate kiss. Taking the hint, he lowers her to the ground and settles into the crook between her legs. When he grinds into her, she mewls in his ear.

“You don’t want to stop,” he says, his tone laced with desire. “Thank fuck.”

“Peeta, yes,” she sighs before finding enough strength to admit, “No, I don’t want to stop. You feel so good. Feel sogood…”

Working underneath her clothes, his fingers dip into her slit and tease until she’s wet and panting. She jerks with every sensation and pleads nearly inaudibly for him to give her more. The others can wait; it’s time for Katniss to be selfish, and there’s nothing she wants more than to make love to her fiancé in her favorite place.

The meadow where they first met shields them with tall grasses dotted with bursts of wildflowers in multiple colors. Red, blue, purple, pink, orange, and yellow all bloom around them, and she dips her face into the fragrant blooms when Peeta rears back on his knees to manhandle her onto all fours. Her bare knees scrape against the dirt and ground cover, but when he enters her, she doesn’t care. Crying out, she arches her back and rocks against him.

It’s so good when they’re together. She’s always wanted to be loved, even if she didn’t know how to explain it. Somehow, though, he knew what she needed, or at least he’d been persistent about his own interests until they aligned. Now, she can’t imagine her life without him, can’t fathom how empty she’d be without him next to her in the morning. She’s never been so happy to be wrong about needing someone, and she used to protest plenty.

Peeta pounds into her, hard and insistent, and she drops her head in surrender to bliss. Bent over her with his chest plastered to her back, he murmurs in her ear. The dirty talk makes her eyes cross, or maybe it’s the way his right hand circles her clit in tight, fast circles that match the rhythm of his hips. This isn’t going to take long, and that seems to be intentional on Peeta’s part.

“Love being inside you, sweetheart,” he gasps. “So wet and tight. Exactly what I want. Taking it so well. Letting me fuck you senseless. Love you so much.”

She tries to answer, but her voice is lost in a combination of breathy moans and high-pitched grunts every time he slams into her. She’s so turned on she can’t even say his name. Everything that comes out of her mouth is indecipherable gibberish.

“Yeah, I feel you tightening, Katniss. Feel you winding up. Almost there. Almost there, and then—”

Arching her back, she wails as she snaps. Her entire body clenches, milking him inside her, and she melts. Gathering her to him, he bucks into her a few more times and then follows her over the edge before collapsing onto her back in the fragrant bed of flowers.

“Peeta,” she finally manages, but it takes almost all her energy. She can feel the scrape of weeds on her belly and knees, and she’s stupidly thankful that they didn’t bother to strip each other completely since neither of them bothered to toss a blanket down before losing themselves in each other.

With a groan, Peeta rolls off her and heaves a few uneven breaths before answering. She knows the feeling because she’s just as overwhelmed as he seems to be. This is part of why she finally gave in, finally said yes when he asked her to marry him. If she loves him this much and she can’t keep her hands off him, maybe he really is her soulmate. Even if he’s not, she doesn’t really care. Right now, he’s everything she wants.

“We should go meet our friends,” he mumbles into her temple, but she’s sure there’s no sense of urgency.

Pulling him into a kiss, she makes sure they’re good and late. Maybe that’s why Finnick and Johanna tease them mercilessly when they show up, or maybe it’s what Gale says when he leans down and whispers in her ear.

“Hate to say it, Catnip, but I didn’t ever think I’d be so jealous of grass stains on your knees.”

Flushing bright red, she realizes in horror that the reason for their tardiness is more than obvious. Somehow, though, that doesn’t matter much. When Peeta smiles at her, she tangles her fingers in his ashy blonde curls and pulls a weed free. She’s already planning how to get Peeta back in the Meadow for another round.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring #spring 2022 #hutchhitched #submission #prompt

Fri, 20 May 2022 08:30:45

Author:@taylerwrites

Prompt: kissing in the rain [submitted by anonymous]

Rating:T

Author’s Note: Mentions Underage Drinking
_______________

When Katniss first met the Mellark siblings, she was seven. She’d been playing with her new set of matchbox cars in Uncle Haymitch’s open backyard by herself because Prim had been sick with a cold.

The Mellark siblings were riding down the sidewalk on their bikes, only stopping when they saw her.

Katniss froze as the girl hopped off her pink bike and bounded over to her.

The boy with her was short and slightly round with a mop of blonde curls falling into his eyes. There was a small smudge of dirt on his nose and a faded grass stain on his left knee. He stayed behind the girl, shyly peering at Katniss from around the girl’s slight frame.

“Oh, do you mind if Peeta plays with us? He’s my baby brother.”

Katniss glanced over at the shy boy’s round face when he muttered, “I’m not a baby.”

She decided then that she wouldn’t mind being friends with the Mellark siblings, and wherever Madge went, Peeta went too—not that Katniss minded. Peeta was a nice boy, unlike those in her grade that liked to pull on her pigtails.

And she kind of enjoyed having his blushy smiles around.

~~~~

Katniss sat next to Madge on the living room floor, flipping through a catalog for prom dresses and drinking cans of cherry-flavored soda.

“Oh! What about this one?” Madge said, pointing at a dress that had more sequins than fabric. Katniss told her it was ugly, scrunching her nose, and her friend gasped. “No it’s not.”

“What’s ugly?”

Peeta walked into the room, still wearing his gear from baseball practice, and plopped down on the floor beside Katniss.

He’d lost most of his baby fat over the years, but there was still a bit of roundness around his face that he hadn’t gotten rid of. Although, that never stopped the girls from fawning over him at school.

And Katniss would be lying to herself if she didn’t think he was cute—especially when he turned into a blushing mess around her.

The tips of Peeta’s ears turned a shade of pink. “Uh, hey, Katniss.”

She smiled before reaching over to ruffle his hair. “Hey, squirt.”

He grumbled and swatted at her hand.

“What are you two doing?”

“Looking at prom dresses,” Madge said, not lifting her eyes from the page in front of her.

Peeta nodded and peered over at Katniss. “Cool, and um, who are you going to prom with, Katniss?”

“I’m not going.”

“Which is crazy because it’s our senior year,” Madge grumbled as she flipped the page.

Katniss rolled her eyes. “I told you that I have to help Prim get ready for her middle school dance. Plus, I went last year and thought it was overrated.” Then she glanced over toward Peeta, a small smirk on her lips. “I saw that you asked Delly to prom.”

Madge’s head snapped up from the catalog to stare at her brother with wide eyes. “Really? The Cartwright girl? She’s so cute, Peeta!”

Peeta’s face glowed crimson. “Oh, that—uh, we’re just going as friends…because she wanted to go!”

Katniss nudged his shoulder, smiling. “It’s okay. You can say that you like her.”

He tugged on his ear, still blushing. “Well, I was going to ask you, actually.”

She shook her head. “Ha, ha, very funny, squirt. Delly would be better company.”

“Plus, sophomores aren’t allowed to go to the after-party,” Madge told him as she stood up to grab a snack from the kitchen.

Katniss leaned into his side, keeping her voice low. “Don’t listen to her. She just doesn’t want you to catch her making out with Gale.”

“I heard that!”

Peeta turned to face her. “Will you be going?”

She shook her head. “No, I have to finish writing essays for scholarships tonight.”

“Oh, well, I can come keep you company if you want.”

“Eh, don’t worry about me, squirt. I’ll be fine. Enjoy prom.” Then she smirked. “And your time with Delly.”

And if Katniss were paying closer attention, she probably would have noticed how Peeta’s smile almost seemed forced at her words.

~~~~~

Katniss was in the middle of watching a movie when she heard the sound of gentle taps on her window. For a moment, she thought she imagined it—blaming it on the heavy downpour outside… until she heard again several seconds later.

Standing up from her bed, Katniss walked to the window, and there, under the old oak tree near her house, stood Peeta—his light blue tie against his black tux helping her see him better.

She rushed downstairs, trying not to wake up Haymitch, who was snoring loud enough to rattle windows on the couch before she opened the front door to a soaking wet Peeta standing on the porch.

“Peeta? What are you doing here? Is everything okay?“

Katniss used the sleeve of her sweater to wipe the water from his face, running her hand through his curly hair as she gave him a once-over to make sure nothing was wrong.

"I, uh…I…

"You haven’t been drinking, have you?”

“No!” he blurted, and then he looked down at his shoes sheepishly after his outburst. “I mean, maybe a little, but I’m not drunk.”

She stepped out onto the front porch, so they didn’t wake up Haymitch in the living room. Katniss grabbed his hand and led him to the porch swing, tugging him down next to her.

“Okay, tell me what’s up. You never come and visit me this late at night. Did everything go okay with Delly?”

He ran a hand through his long curls. “Yeah, it was alright. Did you finish your essays?”

“I did,” she said slowly, still confused.

His lips pressed together, releasing a shaky breath as he picked at the chipped paint on the porch swing. “Can… can I ask you something? If I had asked you out to prom, would you have said yes?”

Her mouth opened and closed a few times. “Peeta, where is this coming from?”

“Delly told me to try my shot because I’ve liked you for years,” he said in a rush. “So… would you have said yes?”

For the first time, Katniss actually looked at Peeta, not as Madge’s little brother but as the boy who made her laugh when she cried—who walked with her on her first day of middle school because she was scared, and shared his lunch with her when she didn’t have one.

He’s always sent the brightest smiles her way, and she liked how pretty his eyes were when he wore blue. She couldn’t hide that she’d drag Peeta away after his games after noticing the number of girls that would fawn over him, usually blaming it on her being his protective older friend, not that of a jealous love interest.

So she looked at him now: his tux hugged his ever-growing broad shoulders, blonde curls perfectly swooped above his brow, and eyes hopeful.

“Yeah,” she finally answered. “I would have said yes.”

Katniss squeaked in surprise when Peeta leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers, almost clumsily. Their kiss was messy, a little unpracticed, but she couldn’t help the sigh that bubbled out of her chest when he brushed his fingers through her hair.

She swore she’d never been kissed like that before—like he was trying to drink her in, and he groaned into her mouth when her tongue slid across his bottom lip. Time seemed to stand still around them, the rain steadily pelting down against the roof, but Katniss could hardly hear it over her heartbeat thrumming in her ears.

Peeta’s mouth curled into a small smile against hers when he pulled away, only to have her follow after him. “Prom was totally worth it.”

Her laugh was airy as she found his lips again. “Yeah? Wait until next year. Your date is probably going to be boring, fair warning.”

His eyes round for a split second before he gave her that blushy look that was so like Peeta. Then he said: “You couldn’t be boring even if you tried.”

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring 2022 #spring #taylerwrites #submission #prompt

Maiah Wynne - The Valley Song Sub Español - The Hunger Games Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Wed, 18 May 2022 08:30:31

Author:@mega-aulover

Prompt: Hi. Can I request a fic for my birthday on May 16? I don’t have a specific prompt. Maybe something that one of you have been wanting to write. I’m sure I will like anything you come up with. Thanks. - Diane [submitted by @ldyglfr62]

Rating:T

Author’s Note: Happy birthday @ldyglfr62. I’ve always wanted to do a Beltane Fic and I got to start one. This would be part two you can find Part 1 here. Thank you to my beta @norbertsmom - FYI keep a lookout for two quotes by the Bard:

“Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back? Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid? O, none, unless this miracle have might; That in black ink my love may still shine bright.” William Shakespeare - Sonnet 65

“What’s done can’t be undone.” William Shakespeare - Act 5 Scene 1 Macbeth
__________________

May Day: The Forest:

The three points of light floated through the woods to a small clearing. A square stone table that was invisible to human eyes appeared before the points of light. The Stone table was steeped in ancient magic.

The points of lights began to whirl around the table. As they rounded the table their magic sparkled as it flew off them onto the table.

The three points flew faster and faster. Their hum grew and they began muttering softly around the stone.

Two figures wearing hooded cloaks approached with a basket. They withdrew offerings of an arrow and a loaf of bread. They placed the offerings in the middle of the green grass. In the magical world, the items sat in the middle of the stone table.

Then the taller of the figures withdrew flowers from the basket. They handed a bunch to the smaller figure. They began dancing and chanting. As they danced they threw flowers where the stone table lay in the world of magic.

As they danced, they began murmuring, “Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back? Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid? O, none, unless this miracle have might; That in black ink my love may still shine bright.”

The three points of light joined the two figures as they chanted. All five began going round and round the stone table faster and faster. Their voices combined, chanting louder and louder until the sun shone down on the stone table and the offerings turned red. And from them, the image of a Stag and of a Young woman emerged. They danced until Stag became a young man and they became one flesh and gave birth to a small infant.

The two figures chanted louder along with the three points of light who by now had transformed into ghostly figures. Then those points of light proclaimed in one loud voice, that reverberated in the still woods, “What’s done can’t be undone.”

Hearing the voice, the two figures fell to the ground. Their sacrifice was accepted and their wish, which had begun the night before, was going to be fulfilled.

The three lighted figures turned back into points of light and zoomed past the two figures who had collapsed onto the forest floor.

May Day:

Katniss held Peeta’s basket and made her way to the stage. She waited on stage, still in shock. Her eyes searched the crowd, half expecting to see the man in the Stag headdress standing in the audience.

She looked up at the side of the stage. Dawn Everett was stomping toward her with a deadly look on her face. She held her basket with one hand, down at her side as if she didn’t really care about it, at all. Delly, however, was still beaming as she made her way up onto the stage with a basket of her own.

Katniss wondered what else would come out of this bizarre day. She stood on stage across from Peeta, he and the other Suitors were now dressed in white, with a red belt. Her stomach was buzzing by this point. Why did she listen to Delly? Why hadn’t she gone with her instinct to choose Thom’s basket? Then her mind flashed to the man with the Stag headdress. Somehow her dreams were manifesting themselves, somehow bleeding into her reality.

Katniss was beginning to think she was going crazy. The man with the Stag headdress and the buckskin pants appeared first at the Maypole when she was dancing around it. Then when she was being chased he appeared again. Katniss’s heart pounded against her chest as she watched Effie call another one of the girls from the Royal Court.

The crowd watched as the last of the Royal Court picked a basket. Thom, Gale, and Dwight were still in contention. She wasn’t the only Seam - Merchant couple. Bristel, Delly, Madge, and Louisa had chosen baskets that were from the Seam.

“Well that was exciting,” Effie said. “We want to thank all of the Suitors who were gallant enough to participate in the Morris dances and the chase.”

The crowd clapped politely.

“After our Suitors and the ladies of the Royal Court have eaten lunch we will begin the performances. It will be capped off by a performance by each of the members of our talented Royal Court,” Effie said.

The crowd cheered at the last statement.

On stage, Katniss was caught off guard. She had to school her features to hide her shock. Her eyes flew to where her mother and sister stood, Peeta was by them as well.

Suddenly everything blurred once more as she found herself standing feet away from the man with the Stag headdress. He waved her to him with his hands. Katniss took a step back, she stepped on the hem of her long flowing dress. She jolted back into reality.

Effie was talking about the symbolism of the spring and how the tradition helped foster the Hunger Games. Katniss wanted to scowl at the woman. The President and his agenda to kill children for the sake of entertainment could, in Katniss’ opinion, go to hell in a handbasket.

She gripped the handle of Peeta’s handbasket.

Katniss quietly peered at the others on the Royal Court and took the information with ease. All except for Abigail and Bristel looked a little green.

“Well ladies, please enjoy your lunch with your Suitor,” Effie said.

Dawn turned around and smiled then said to Katniss, “This isn’t over! You’ll never win May Queen, you know…”

“Shut up Dawn,” Madge said, placing her arm around Katniss’ shoulder. “Shouldn’t you be going down to meet your date, Elmer?”

They looked over to see the guy with the hook nose that had escorted Bristel to the stage earlier.

“Ugh,” Dawn squealed.

“Is there a problem, Miss Everett?” Effie asked.

“No, ma'am,” Dawn said in a sugary sweet voice. “This basket is just so heavy, is all.”

“Well the sooner you leave the stage the sooner it will become empty.”

“Yes ma'am,” Dawn said.

The Royal Court left the stage. Katniss’ family and Peeta’s family were waiting for her. His mother the Witch gave Katniss a once over before asking, “What is going to be your talent?”

Her brusque question had Katniss scrambling to find words. She was still coming to grips with the entire Stag thing and having to come up with something for the competition. Katniss was wondering if everyone knew except for her.

“Mom, Katniss is a great singer,” Peeta said.

Katniss wanted to frown; she wondered when Peeta had heard her sing. She never sang outside of the woods or the sanctity of her home.

“It’s true, my sister has a beautiful voice,” Primrose said, sticking her nose up at Peeta’s mother.

“My daughter has an exceptional voice,” Fae said. “It’s on…on par with her fat…with that of her,” Fae’s voice trembled. Prim took their mother’s hand. Fae took a deep breath and said, “Her father’s.”

“He had a voice that made the birds stop to listen,” Mr. Mellark said.

“Can you sing?” Mrs. Mellark questioned.

Katniss scowled at the woman. She didn’t want to let her get the best of her. She hadn’t sung in years, but it didn’t mean she couldn’t. “I can sing.”

“Good, then there will be two Mellark women who win the May Queen,” she said and without missing a beat she turned to Peeta’s father. “Come along Bing, we need to make sure the kiosk is running smoothly. That idiot son of ours is no doubt giving the food away to any pretty face that bats their eyelashes at him.”

“Yes, dear,” Peeta’s father muttered, as he followed his wife.

Katniss didn’t know what to say. Her eyes turned to Peeta who shrugged.

“Peeta, I think your mother just gave her blessing for your union with my Katniss,” Fae said.

“She probably said that because she knows that I will not be chosen,” Katniss said.

“I don’t know,” Prim said. “People think you look beautiful.”

Katniss wanted to roll her eyes; she knew the truth, she wasn’t pretty as Madge, she wasn’t as curvaceous as Delly, and she didn’t have a bubbly personality. Why she received a rose and was part of the Royal Court, was still a mystery.

“Don’t you think so?” Prim asked.

“Your sister is very pretty,” their mother said. “Besides, there’s magic in the air today. Can’t you feel it?”

Katniss smiled at her mother and sister but didn’t want to burst her mother’s or Prim’s bubble. She wasn’t pretty and there was no such thing as magic. Just overactive imaginations and hormonal teenagers.

“I think we need to leave Katniss and Peeta alone so that they can enjoy the picnic. The day isn’t over, and your sister needs her strength.”

Katniss nodded.

No sooner did her family leave did Peeta turn to her and quickly say. “If there is anything I should apologize for, I am sorry.”

“I’m not upset,” Katniss said. Walking with the basket.

“I volunteered you to sing,” Peeta said walking beside her.

“Oh,” she’d forgotten about that.

It was noon and all of the Royal Court and their Suitors were on the lawn enjoying their picnic baskets. Katniss smiled as she walked by Dwight Baird and Abigail Adams sitting together on the lawn enjoying lunch. Abigail was laughing at something Dwight said.

“I’m sorry about the entire singing thing,” Peeta said. “What about here under the oak tree?”

“Okay,” Katniss agreed.

Peeta pulled out an old checkered blanket and laid it on the grass.

Katniss sat down; her hands suddenly shook with nerves. It dawned on her that if she was chosen as May Queen she would have to marry Peeta at sunset. She shook off the feeling and concentrated on the food. She began to pull out the contents of the basket.

Peeta packed his family’s famous apple goat cheese tarts, fresh bread, apples, strawberries, and some of the goat cheese Prim made. There were also a few cookies and fresh lemon juice.

“I packed my grandmother’s china,” Peeta’s face turned pink. “My dad said it was lucky.”

“Right,” Katniss muttered under her breath. She wasn’t sure how lucky it was for his father.

“Here, you need to try these. I made them, especially for today. My brother told me that my basket wouldn’t be chosen…I hoped…I dreamed…” his face was red, but he smiled at her as he handed her a bun.

Katniss took the bun in her hand and sniffed it. She could smell melted cheese, salty butter, and the sweet scent of freshly baked bread. Her mouth watered.

“You’ll like it,” Peeta urged.

The crumbly flaky bread melted on her tongue before the taste of the sweet tartness of the cheese exploded and she moaned as she ate.

“Good?” Peeta asked.

“Perfection,” Katniss said, licking her lips. She looked up and for a moment her eyes and Peeta’s eyes were synced together and they couldn’t stop staring at the other. His eyes were warm and gentle, doe-like. It was as she made this observation she turned to the side and tried to find something else to speak of. “How did you even know that I sang?”

“You don’t remember,” Peeta said, handing her a strawberry.

“No, I don’t,” Katniss said, taking the strawberry.

“First day of school, when we were little.”

“The first day of school, ever?”

“Yeah, that first day of school,” Peeta handed her another strawberry.

Katniss took it and looked at Peeta before speaking, “I didn’t.”

“Oh yes, you did.” Peeta nodded. “Our teacher asked who knew the valley song. And you raised your hand faster than lightning shooting across the sky. ”

“I did?”

“Yup. You stood up in your red plaid outfit and black patent mary-janes and two braids, and proceeded to sing.”

Katniss remembered that dress. She’d tried to sell it for food. There were no buyers and Prim ended up wearing the dress on her first day of school. “I don’t remember doing that.”

“You did. The other kids were giggling when you stood up there, but when you opened your mouth to sing, everyone became real quiet. You could hear a pin drop. The teacher had tears in her eyes and I was a goner.” Peeta turned red, after his confession.

“My grandmother Maude Ivory taught me that song,” Katniss said. She didn’t catch what Peeta said about being a goner, but she did remember her father and her grandmother singing that song.

“I know you haven’t sung since your father died,” Peeta said.

“Wasn’t much to sing about after he died.”

“Your father was a great man, and it was a great loss to District Twelve when he died. My father and your father became friends. Even though my father and your mother were once engaged.”

“Your dad and my mother?” Katniss couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She couldn’t help but smile. Peeta just turned a sad situation upside-down. He was good with words whereas she was clumsy with expressing how she felt. “No that can’t be true?”

“It is, my father told me, ‘You see that man, he’s got a voice that could make the angels weep and the birds silent.’” Peeta poured her a glass of lemonade. “My father said, ‘He stole my fiancé away from me, but I couldn’t blame him, Fae was a goner when she heard him sing.’” Peeta imitated his father’s gentle voice.

“Will your mom be alright with me, well you and I?”

“If you win the May Queen, she’ll brag, because that’s right up there with winning the Hunger Games.”

“Are you enjoying the food?”

Katniss nodded, the food he packed in the basket was delicious.

“Don’t look now, but Dawn is staring at us,” Peeta said.

Dawn and Elmer were sitting a few feet away. She was giving Katniss the evil eye. Katniss shook her head, “She wanted to get your basket.”

“I’m kind of glad she didn’t. She’s been hounding me for days trying to flirt with me.” Peeta scratched the back of his head. “She was flirting with my brother to get information on my basket.”

“I know, she told us all that she had designs on your basket. Delly didn’t want her to pick your basket and,” Katniss began to slow down as she spoke as Peeta’s smile began to disappear, “she asked me to choose it before she could. I was going to choose Thom’s basket.”

“Not Gale’s,” Peeta asked, surprised.

“No,” Katniss wrinkled her nose. “Gale and I, we’re practically related. I mean we even look alike.”

“Can I be totally honest?” Peeta asked.

Katniss wasn’t sure how Peeta was going to react to what she said. To hear that it wasn’t providence, but it was an act of mercy that brought them together was hard to swallow. If Gale was in Peeta’s position, he would have railed.

“Sure,” Katniss replied, unsure what Peeta was going to tell her.

“This is my luckiest day.”

Her confusion must have shown on her face.

“Because you’re amazing, beyond anything I imagined,” Peeta said. “If not for this crazy day, I wouldn’t be speaking to you.”

Katniss took a breath in and held it in her chest, at his confession. There was a bond between them, born on the day that he had selflessly given her those loaves of bread. She felt warm all over.

Peeta quietly said, “I like you Katniss Everdeen, and I understand if you don’t like me back. And that’s okay, I mean we’re virtually strangers.” His face became blotchy. “But know that on my part if you were to be crowned May Queen, it’ll be a dream come true for me.”

The wind in her chest rushed out of her. Katniss couldn’t believe he liked her, liked her the way a boy liked a girl. She could feel her cheeks flare up with heat and she wasn’t sure what to say to him. The fluttering in her stomach came back with a vengeance.

“Peeta, I…”

“No, don’t say anything. Because I hope even if you don’t become May Queen, we can still be friends.”

Katniss took his hands in hers and said, “My mother told me my parents used to use this day to be close to each other.”

Peeta blinked at her.

The fluttering had turned into a buzzing storm. His hand was warm and strong, and her smaller dark one was swallowed up by his larger hand. Taking a deep breath, “I would like to be your friend Peeta.” Katniss leaned over and pressed a chaste kiss on his cheek.

Across the way, Dawn gasped and stood up. Her blue eyes became venomous. Next to her, Elmer looked apologetically.

“Dawn, sit down, you’re causing a scene,” Elmer said.

Effie and the well-dressed man were watching them.

Dawn huffed and sat down with a sour look on her face.

“Sorry,” Elmer mouthed.

Katniss and Peeta laughed at the situation.

“I hope she doesn’t become May Queen,” Peeta said.

“I hope not too,” Katniss agreed.

“I hope we become friends,” Peeta said, glancing into her gray eyes.

They had another shared moment and Katniss looked away and grabbed another cheese bun. She quickly said, “I have to stay your friend if I want more of these.”

“Kiss me like that and I’ll guarantee there’ll be a cheese bun waiting for you when you come to trade.”

Katniss laughed.

“I think we ought to start picking the flowers for the elderly,” Peeta said.

As part of the May Day tradition, each member of the Royal Court gave the older folk flowers; there weren’t many people older than sixty in District twelve. Greasy Sae was one of the four. Peeta found a spot that had a lot of wildflowers and Katniss began to weave a crown.

“I think I’ll make them crowns,” Katniss said.

“That’s a great idea.”

“I need flowers with long stems, I can use dandelions,” Katniss said.

“Okay, I’ll go find them,” Peeta said.

Peeta searched for the flowers while she braided them.

Her vision blurred and she saw herself sitting in a vast meadow filled with wildflowers in vivid colors. She was making a crown. The white dress she wore today was now made of layers of tulle. It shone and shimmered in the sunlight. Katniss stood up and looked around as she heard her name being called.

There, standing before her was the man in the Stag headdress. She felt hot all over as he held out a hand to her. Katniss began walking toward him, drawn to him. She was unable to break the bond between them. Suddenly her world spun and she sat down on the grass. Looking up she found Peeta near her.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes,” Katniss nodded.

“Okay,” he nodded. “I found these forget-me-nots by the well, I think the blue and yellow will work well.”

“Thank you. I think we have enough for three flower crowns for the elders.”

“Effie told me there we had to make four,” Peeta said.

“Four?” Katniss was only aware of three.

“She said, there were four elders,” Peeta shrugged.

“Okay, I suppose I’m going to need more dandelions and forget-me-nots.”

When it came time to present the elderly with their flowers, Katniss looked around. The majority made bouquets with a simple ribbon tied around. Delly made a small cone for her flowers made from the wax paper used to wrap the sandwiches from her basket.

Katniss’ crowns were met with oohs and ahhs. Katniss also presented each of the elders with a cookie from the basket Peeta made. As she walked toward them everything became fuzzy and the four elders were suddenly sitting on silver thrones. They wore long gowns and their silvery hair glowed softly like the moonlight.

Katniss looked down and her white dress trailed behind her. She reached Greasy Sae and gently placed the crown on her head. Greasy gave her a gentle smile and a regal nod. Katniss heard a horn and she turned to see the man with the Stag headdress standing just to the side. She was close enough to see fine blond hairs on his broad chest.

The sight of the man’s chest caused her body to feel fire all over it. Katniss shivered and the action brought her back to reality. She now stood before Selma; she was a year younger than Greasy Sae.

“Hello dear,” Selma said. Her weathered face broke into a beautiful smile when Katniss placed the crown of dandelions and blue forget-me-nots on her head.

“Hello Selma,” Katniss whispered.

“I haven’t worn a crown of flowers since I was in the Royal Court. I met my beloved Oscar that way.” Her blue eyes twinkled. “He was as handsome as your Suitor Peeta.”

Katniss felt herself get warm and her stomach fluttered as she snuck a peek at Peeta.

The Goat Man was especially touched by the flowers and the cookie.

“This way your goats can’t reach them,” Katniss whispered.

“Thank you for the kindness. I always enjoy the flowers but my goats eat everything. This way I can hang it high and they can’t get to them,” the Goat Man said smiling brightly.

Katniss moved on to the other lady. She was seam with her olive complexion and gray eyes. Her long dark hair was now a silvery-white.

She waived.

Greasy Sae’s voice boomed, “Myrtle’s hard of hearing, she doesn’t come out very often, on account of her knees.”

Katniss nodded and she understood why she hadn’t seen Myrtle before; she must have been very old. Myrtle smiled at Katniss as she placed the crown on her head.

When the presentation was over, the school children sang charming school songs, including Katniss’ favorite, Do-Re-Mi. A little girl stepped forward. She had twin braids and a checkered dress. She reminded Katniss of a miniature version of herself that Peeta had mentioned earlier.

“Hi, my name is Carwyn. I’m six and I’m going to sing about spring.”

There was an instant awe sound coming from the audience.

“It is springtime, springtime again,” she sang with the gusto of a six-year-old. And instantaneously everyone’s heart was turned into a big mush as she sang, “Ah, ah, ah!”

When she finished singing everyone gave her a rousing round of applause.

The other performers sang Capitol-approved ballads. A message from President Snow was aired and people clapped politely. Then came the part that they were all waiting for, the ceremonial May Bush.

The Suitors had to race to find something that could resemble a bush in the surrounding wooded areas and bring it to their partners and together they would decorate it. The bush would be used later on for the ceremonial bonfire. It was this fire that would be used to have the May Queen’s Toasting.

To cut down the branch or bush, they needed a knife. To do that they needed to piece together a puzzle at a table. Katniss knew Gale was good at snares and putting things together. Peeta was smart as well. Dwight, although not someone who was physically imposing, was frightfully intelligent; puzzles would not be an issue for him.

Thom could be lazy, but he had surprised her earlier during the chase. Thom was invested in the prize.

Gale stretched and Ida gushed, “Gale is so handsome.”

Katniss rolled her eyes.

“He’s a tall glass of yummy,” Emily said giggling.

“Kinda’ makes you wanna throw up,” Bristel said dryly.

Madge and Delly chuckled. “Actually,” Delly said, clearing her throat. “I think they’re right, Gale’s kind of handsome.”

“Kind of?” Madge challenged.

Katniss looked at Gale. Yes, he was handsome. But he was too familiar to her to be anything else than her hunting buddy.

“Katniss looks like she wants to throw up,” Bristel said.

This caused a round of laughter.

The girls began talking about which of the four crowns was going to be the most prestigious. Madge said, “It’s going to be the Crown of North.”

“How would you know?” Dawn asked petulantly.

“She gets the crown. The Queen of the South gets a small tiara, the Queen of the West gets a bouquet of flowers, the Queen of the East receives a sash, but the Queen of the North will be crowned with a jeweled Silver May Queen crown.”

“Well, I am going to be crowned Queen of the North,” Dawn said imperiously.

The warning bell went off. It was almost time for the start of the race. The air vibrated with energy as the remaining ten men lined up. The women took their places by the tables that contained flowers and ribbons made from corn stalks. Things to decorate the bush, but could be burned without any harmful toxins to make the crowd sick. They had to do this in less than twenty minutes.

The horn was blown and the men ran. Katniss joined the rest of the girls cheering their Suitor on. The crowd roared as they egged the guys on. Katniss watched Peeta anxiously willing him to finish the trick to getting the knife. As Katniss predicted, Peeta, Gale, and Dwight were the first to figure out the puzzle and quickly got their knife.

Katniss cheered Peeta on. He stopped to help Dwight with his tree. Her heart squeezed and she couldn’t help but be proud of Peeta for his kindness. Gale got to his table first.

Peeta and Dwight arrived next.

“Sorry,” Peeta said, handing Katniss the low branch he had cut. Katniss brought out the basket.

“When we were making the crowns, I made a garland of flowers to add to our bush.”

“I could kiss you,” Peeta said.

Katniss once more couldn’t help the stinging heat that flooded her cheeks. As they quickly arranged the garland on the branch that Peeta had somehow managed to make stand. He added sprigs of sage, lavender, and rosemary. They pulled away and laughed.

Peeta extended his hand to her and together they ran to the finish line. Where they discovered they were the second couple to cross. They began to cheer on the others.

The teams had to run to the finish line before the time ran out. There were only five minutes on the clock left. Delly ran across with her partner and she joined Katniss and Madge. The girls embraced and turned to cheer on Bristel who was finishing up with Tim, the man with the thick neck nicknamed Digger.

Bristel and Digger ran for the finish line; they made it just ahead of Dawn and Elmer. With time running out Abigail, Dwight, Edith, and Michael made it across the line. There were now seven couples, half of them were a mix of Seam and Merchant.

It was unprecedented, but there was pride in the eyes of the district because they represented the best of the district.

“Well, ladies you have an hour free before the start of the talent portion,” Effie said into the microphone. “Please remember to maintain a sense of polite decorum when interacting with your peers. They will have the ultimate vote as to who is to be chosen May Queen.”

As they walked around, a lot of people were smiling and waving. Katniss wasn’t totally comfortable.

“Relax,” Peeta said.

Katniss glanced at Peeta, struggling. She wasn’t someone who easily spoke about the things that were going on inside of her. She was friends with Madge in school, but they didn’t swap secrets. She was friends with Gale, but all they ever spoke about was hunting and the unfairness of the way they were living.

Prim was too young, and her relationship with her mother wasn’t a strong one. Katniss didn’t really have anyone to open up with.

The fluttery feeling was back in her stomach as she opened and closed her mouth several times.

Peeta stopped walking. “It can be nerve-wracking talking to people you don’t know…but you’re the girl who saved your family by hunting. A lot of people look up to you.”

Katniss snorted.

“Don’t take what I say lightly. You’re infamous and in a good way. I mean what am I known for?”

“Your kindness,” she blurted.

“You think I’m kind?”

This was another moment between them and she thought to herself that the connection between them was growing. Perhaps her mother was right. There was a special magic today. Katniss couldn’t help smiling, “Yes, I do.”

“Thank you,” Peeta said.

Taking a leap of faith, she turned to Peeta. If they were going to be friends they should be honest with each other. “Peeta, to be honest. About today…all of this…it’s just the attention…I’m not used to it,” Katniss said quietly.

“Katniss, you’re a hunter in District Twelve, everyone knows you.”

“Yeah but everyone’s watching me, judging me, I don’t like that.”

“I’m nervous too,” Peeta said. “I threw up the first time I was going to wrestle.”

“Really?”

“I think my breath was what caused me to win,” Peeta wiggled his eyebrows. “Talk about bad breath.”

Katniss laughed.

Katniss and Peeta were walking around the fair, checking out all the food being sold. It was necessary for them to interact with the people. There were glass jars and each family of the district was given a stone. At the end of the day, whoever had the most stones won the May Queen contest.

“Katniss,” Doctor Ryker greeted.

“Hello,” Katniss greeted. He was a widower who moved to District 12 from the Capitol. Katniss thought he moved to the District out of heartbreak. He was a thin man with pale blond hair and brown eyes. Many women found him attractive. “Doctor Ryker, this is my Suitor Peeta Mellark.”

“Doctor Ryker,” Peeta greeted.

“Congratulations on your nomination to the Royal Court. I hear it’s quite a distinction.”

“I didn’t know you were going to attend the May Day fair,” Katniss said.

“Well, your sister wouldn’t stop talking about it,” Doctor Ryker said.

Katniss chuckled.

“Katniss is quite the young lady. She is paying for her sister’s advancement in medicine.”

Peeta gazed at Katniss with admiration.

“He’s teaching Prim so that when she graduates from school she can take the test, and help Doctor Ryker with his practice.”

“Your sister is quite the prodigy. She has excellent hands and bedside manners. Your mother has quite the knowledge of medicinal herbs. She has taught Primrose very well.”

“My mother will be happy to hear that.”

“I believe they are by the bakery kiosk,” Peeta said.

“Oh well, I think I will say hello,” Doctor Ryker said.

“I didn’t know you were doing that?” Peeta said. “Is that why you’re working in the mines?”

“I don’t want Prim to go into the mines,” Katniss said.

“I’m going to say it again, you are amazing,” Peeta said softly.

Katniss felt the fluttering sensation in her stomach as Peeta got closer to her. Just as his face neared hers, they were interrupted.

“Hello, Katniss,” Mrs. Craisin greeted.

They both jumped away. She was sure her face matched Peeta’s pink one.

Katniss traded a lot with Mrs. Craisin; she and her family ran the dairy stand. “Hello.”

“Hello, Mrs. Craisin,” Peeta said. “Mrs. Craisins, do you know that Katniss works in the mines to help her sister become a doctor?”

“No,” Mrs. Craisins said, astonished.

Katniss’ eyes widened as she realized what Peeta said. Mrs. Craisins was the biggest busybody in the District.

“Oh Peeta, you should be ecstatic to be with such a gracious and talented young lady,” Mrs. Craisin said.

“I am well aware,” Peeta said.

“I’ll be sure to tell my husband to vote for her,” Mrs. Craisins said, moving away.

“Peeta, do you know what you just did?”

“Yeah,” Peeta grinned. “I just gave you a powerful ally.”

Katniss didn’t want them to vote for her. “But.”

“Katniss, what you are doing for your family is truly selfless.”

“Not really. It’s what every miner does; they work to feed their family.”

“Katniss, you’re not only feeding your family, but you’re giving your sister a chance to become something more. Once she takes her test she’ll be a doctor in town and she’ll be able to help us all. Do you know the effect you have?”

Katniss wasn’t sure how to respond to Peeta, she was flustered, and hearing him extol her virtues wasn’t something she was used to.

“Oh hello, Peeta,” Dawn said, coming out of nowhere. “Katniss,” Dawn practically hissed.

“Where is Elmer?” Katniss asked.

Dawn ignored her and instead said, “Peeta what type of cake will you be making us when this is all over?”

Katniss was annoyed by Dawn and her autocratic ways.

“Where is Elmer, shouldn’t he be with you?” Peeta reiterated.

“What do I care,” Dawn said.

“You’re supposed to be with him,” Katniss said.

“Look, it doesn’t matter because there is a one in three chance I’ll get chosen since Madge and Delly have Suitors from the Seam. Elmer is lucky to have me. He’s not in my league and everyone knows it.”

Katniss glanced at Peeta.

“You never know, Madge is the Mayor’s daughter, and Delly can win the hearts of the -”

“Please stop.” Dawn interrupted. “Let me burst that bubble Katniss. You and I both know no one from the Seam is ever chosen, except for when they’re Reaped for the Games. We both know either Abigail or Edith will win.”

Dawn’s words began cracking the magical shell Katniss had erected around herself during the course of the afternoon.

“So when this is all over, I am going to ask my father to petition Peeta’s mother for his hand in marriage. Everyone knows his father doesn’t take a step unless Mrs. Mellark gives him permission.”

“You’re wrong, Dawn,” Peeta said.

“Am I?” Dawn said in a flirty tone she laughed, and batted her lashes at Peeta, the way a poorly drawn villainess would.

Peeta held back from reacting to Dawn’s actions, but his fists bunched up. Katniss realized he was trying to remain calm.

“Let’s not lie to each other,” Dawn said to Peeta. “We all know you have to get married, Peeta.” Dawn gave Peeta a sly smile. “Your brother is going to inherit the Bakery. And I am my parents’ only child. You would have control of the family business. And you will be a loyal obedient lapdog just like your father.”

Katniss disliked what Dawn said. She wanted to tell Dawn that she was wrong. But looking around, she saw the cracks. There were Peacekeepers milling about to make sure people were well behaved. Seam families dressed in their best Reaping outfits walked around hungrily staring at the food being sold in the kiosks.

Katniss looked at Peeta. Dawn was right. Katniss was fooling herself to think she and Peeta could continue to be friends when this was over. Dawn always got what she wanted because she was a Merchant, and Katniss was, after all, just a girl from the Seam.

“Now Peeta, stop playing coy. What type of-”

“Ladies of the Royal Court, it’s time to take the stage. Suitors, please escort your partners to the stage,” Effie’s voice could be heard.

“Katniss,” Peeta offered Katniss his arm.

“Thank you,” Katniss whispered. The bubble she’d been living in for the past few hours had burst, and her heart felt as if it was tearing in two.

“Are you alright?”

Katniss nodded, but her heart was heavy. The truth was plain and utterly simple. She’d been right all along; there was no magic. There was no suspension of disbelief. This was an illusion. The vivid colors around her faded and everything became the color of ash and soot. Her heart hardened and the fluttering in her stomach died, falling like lead weights within her soul.

“Do you know what song you are going to sing?”

“I’ll know when I get up there,” she said. Her eyes lifted to Peeta’s and for the first time, she noticed how blue they were against his handsome ruddy complexion. Blue in a sea of hues of charcoal. Katniss turned around and went up on stage.

“Ladies, please line up,” Effie said, walking around them like a general inspecting her troops. “Now please listen. Each one of you will have up to ten minutes to display your talent.”

Katniss looked down.

“I’m so nervous,” Delly said.

“No need to be worried, ladies. You should enjoy yourselves,” Effie said, looking at Katniss. “There is magic that happens when you go on stage ladies, a magic that will make you shine.”

Katniss shivered, then scowled; she didn’t believe it, this entire production was a farce.

“So we are going to put your names in a pouch and we are going to randomly call you out. So be prepared.”

Katniss sighed.

For the next hour, Katniss waited for her turn. They were running late. They had to finish before sunset so that the winning team’s bush could be lit and the couple took their vows at sunset. She still had no idea what she was going to do. So far there had been a menagerie of interesting, not always successful, but nonetheless, charming and creative talents displayed.

It began with Madge who did face painting. One of the girls attempted to do tricks with a yo-yo. Her final trick nearly knocked off Effie’s wig. Another performed a magic act, and in the middle of her magic trick, the chicken clucked loudly and laid an egg, causing the audience to laugh loudly.

Delly played music with glasses filled with water. Dawn’s speech turned into a 20-minute tirade as to why she was the best candidate to win May Queen led to her being politely escorted off the stage. Bristel was currently on stage demonstrating the use of a pickaxe in a mine.

Katniss was going to be on last.

“Hello Katniss,” Dwight greeted.

“Dwight, what are you doing backstage?”

“My lady, I come to offer my assistance and suggest you sing.”

“I’m not sure…” Katniss began but Dwight interrupted her.

“I’m a virtuoso with musical instruments. I play the guitar in the band.” Dwight held up an acoustic guitar.

“I… didn’t know that…”

Dwight strummed the chords of his acoustic guitar. “Everyone in my family is musically inclined. I believe you too are musically inclined as was your father and his mother before him.”

“I…” Katniss stammered.

Just then the crowd weakly applauded as Bristel finished.

“Thank you Bristel for demonstrating the importance of maintaining your equipment down in the mines,” Effie said.

Bristel walked off stage.

“Well that went swell,” Bristel said.

“Next up is our last contestant from the Royal Court, Miss Katniss Everdeen.”

“Knock 'Em dead,” Bristel said.

Katniss nodded and slowly walked on stage. There were so many people peering up at her.

“Well Katniss, what will you be doing today?” Effie asked.

“I,” Katniss began and then stammered. “I’ll be singing a song.”

“Oh, well may the odds be ever in your favor,” Effie beamed.

Katniss was left alone on the stage, the microphone glared up at her. Her throat went dry. Her hands became sweaty. Her eyes found the Mellarks and her family standing together.

Closing her eyes, she wished that she was in her glen that was so peaceful. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes and began to sing. The words tumbled out of her lips and the sun shone brightly in her eyes. Katniss put her hand up and everything changed.

“Down in the Valley, in the Valley so low…” Katniss sang. She could remember her father singing it to her mother.

Katniss found herself winding through the forest chasing the Stag with the bright blue eyes once more. This time she did not hold her bow, she held an orb that looked as if she’d plucked the moon from the heavens. As she sang she heard the low murmur of animals in the woods and chanting. She ignored it as she was being led to the clearing. She wanted to, no strike that, Katniss needed to find her Stag.

“Go build me a mansion, build it so high, so I could see my true love.” Katniss sang as she reached the mist-covered clearing.

Katniss took a step, and like before, flowers appeared as she stepped on the grassy meadow. The Stag transformed into a man’s form with thick legs, encased in buckskin pants. He stood with his arms open. Katniss walked as she sang.

The chanting became louder as she became closer. She looked and up above she saw three points of lights dancing. As she stood before the man Katniss sang, “Roses are red. Violets are blue. Birds in the heavens, know I love you. Know I love you.”

The man’s face began to transform and Katniss put her hand on his chest. Her gray eyes collided with his blue ones and suddenly it was Peeta standing there staring down at her.

“Know I love you,” she finished singing.

There was no noise around them, even the birds stopped to listen.

The chanting grew. Katniss could now hear it.

“Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back? Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid? O, none, unless this miracle have might; That in black ink my love may still shine bright,” the voices chanted.

Peeta leaned down and kissed her. The voices disappeared; everything became focused on the feel of his warm lips upon hers. Peeta’s large hands slowly wound around her small waist. Katniss’ hands found purchase on his chest. The muscles beneath her fingers were warm and solid.

She felt his smooth lips slide against hers, felt the way his lips overlapped hers, and pulled her bottom lip into his mouth. The sensation caused her body to heat up, the heat was manifested on the apples of her cheeks.

Kissing was something out of this world. It was good and it felt right. She was filled with light as if the universe righted at their pairing because they were always meant to be.

Suddenly around them, there was thunderous applause.

“Well, well,” Effie said after coming out.

“Let us applaud our very own star-crossed lovers of District Twelve, Katniss Everdeen, and her Suitor, Peeta Mellark!”

Katniss was staring wide at Peeta. She was speechless as they were ushered off the stage by the well-dressed man. Katniss wasn’t sure if she imagined it, but somehow Peeta got on stage while she was singing. Her heart was pounding and the fluttering in her stomach was as violent as she realized she’d just serenaded and kissed Peeta in front of the entire district.

“Peeta, I’m not sure how?” Katniss didn’t know how to process the altered vision-like daydreams she’d been having all day. She began walking down the small flight of stairs. “I don’t have words…”

“I don’t know how I got up on stage,” Peeta muttered. “I was standing by your mom and suddenly I saw you, and you looked like a goddess calling me and then you were just there…and I…”

Katniss held her breath in her chest.

“I liked kissing you. Did you? Did you mind it…kissing me?” Peeta sounded so earnest and vulnerable that it caused warmth to spread all over her body.

Katniss’s heart fluttered in sync with her stomach. It occurred to her she didn’t mind that her first kiss had been with her boy with the bread.

Katniss paused at the landing of the stage stairs. She reached up and kissed Peeta on the lips. She sighed as his warm smooth lips molded to hers and her body felt alive with magic. They broke apart at the high-pitched screech of the microphone.

The man smiled at them, as he directed them to the backstage area.

“Now ladies and gentlemen the time has come to place your votes. Remember there will be four winners this year,” Effie said.

Katniss joined the other girls backstage when her sister ran up and hugged her. She glanced up at Peeta who smiled and nodded his head. Peeta indicated he was going to join the remaining Suitors.

“KATNISS!” Prim squealed. “That was amazing, the way you sang and the way Peeta walked up on stage as if in a love trance…”

“Primrose, that is enough,” Fae said.

“But mom, it’s like…”

“Prim,” Fae sternly said.

Her mother smiled and said, “What’s done can’t be undone.”

Her mother’s voice sounded different as if she had magic woven through her body.

“We better go back,” Prim said.

Katniss nodded.

“Good luck Katniss, and remember what mother said, 'What’s done can’t be undone.’”

Katniss got chills as she watched her mother and sister walk away.

Effie’s voice was heard through the PA system backstage. “Well, the time has come to tally the votes. May we please have the ladies of our Royal Court and their suitors on stage.”

As they were lining up, Dwight turned to her and said, “What’s done can’t be undone.”

Goosebumps broke out on her skin. Katniss asked herself if Dwight heard her mother and sister.

Going to the stage with Peeta by her side she waited while Effie spoke about how wonderful the day had been. The girls stood with the Suitors standing directly behind them.

“The time has come to announce the winners of today’s historic May Queen Fair,” Effie announced.

A sense of giddiness spread throughout the group of 14 young people on stage. Today, the lives of eight of the fourteen gathered would change forever.

Effie took the envelope that she was handed and opened it. She smiled into the microphone and said, “The May Queen of the South is a very own Mayor’s daughter, Madge Undersee.”

There was polite applause for Madge. She was the mayor’s daughter after all, and it wasn’t that unexpected. Now the mayor had to deal with Madge being married to a man from the Seam.

Madge was given a small tiara and a bright coral cape was draped on her shoulders.

Effie was given another envelope. She opened it and her eyebrows went up. Katniss’s stomach clenched.

“The May Queen of the West is Adeline Cartwright,” Effie smiled.

Delly’s brother screamed for joy and everyone laughed and cheered as Delly took the stage. She was gifted with a bouquet of flowers, but her cape was a rich chocolate with aqua and teal embroidery. It was a gorgeous ornate piece of artwork.

Katniss couldn’t believe that both Gale and Thom were marrying Merchant girls. She looked down at the crowd, but there wasn’t any disappointment or anger. They all looked excited and jubilant.

This District that normally was downtrodden with the burden of living was transformed. They were bright embers of light.

The crowd applauded and cheered and sang songs. They were elated.

Effie was handed another envelope. She opened it and read aloud, “The May Queen of the West is,” Effie paused for dramatic effect.

Katniss gripped her hands. Behind her, Peeta took a deep breath.

“Edith Roosevelt.”

The crowd clapped and cheered as Edith sweetly stepped forward. She was given a sash and a navy blue cape with white faux fur details.

Katniss glanced at Bristel, they were the only two people from the Seam left. Bristel smiled and winked at her.

There was electricity in the air now that three of the four May Queens were crowned.

Dawn lifted her chin when Effie was given the last envelope. She was confident she was going to be called.

Katniss closed her eyes. It was then she heard the chanting again. Her eyes flew open and she saw her mother standing in the crowd, her mouth moving. Her mother’s blue eyes glowed as if she was one of the fairies from the stories she would tell Katniss when she was little. Next to her, Prim wasn’t chanting but she was shouting. Behind her, she heard Dwight chanting. When she looked over at him, his eyes were glowing too. The well-dressed man from the Capitol was chanting as well and his eyes looked otherworldly.

“Or what strong hand can hold his swift foot back? Or who his spoil of beauty can forbid? O, none, unless this miracle have might; That in black ink my love may still shine bright…”

Behind her, Peeta was transformed into a Stag, his blue eyes looking at her with love.

Glancing down, her dress was transformed once more into a magical gown of tulle that looked like it was spun from sunlight.

Effie’s voice rang clearly through the air. “And the Queen of the North is our Star-Crossed lover Katniss Everdeen.”

The crowd roared and applauded and cheered until the three-fingered salute was given.

Bristel grabbed Katniss and hugged her as she shouted, “You did it, you did it!”

The other girls in the Royal Court, including the three girls that didn’t make it through to this round, rushed the stage pushing Dawn to the back, her face filled with outrage as she realized she’d lost.

“NO!” Dawn hollered but no one heard her. The cheering and hollering of the Royal Court was loud enough to drown out her pouting. The impeccably dressed man gently escorted her off the stage.

Katniss watched her skulk off the stage, her face was blotchy and her blonde was in a disarray.

Effie placed a bejeweled silver crown on her head. She was given a scepter, and a pristine blue-white cape that shimmered and reflected the colors of the sunset was placed upon her shoulders.

Katniss glanced at Peeta, who smiled at her tenderly. He held out his hand and together they walked to their May Bush. The other couples walked to their own.

As Peeta lit the May Bush, the sun went down. Together they toasted the ceremonial bread. Around them, both Seam and Merchant sang, wishing the Queens good health, and prosperous life. The Mayor declared them married.

They shared a kiss surrounded by family and friends. They were separated by people congratulating them. Katniss wrapped her arms around her middle; she couldn’t believe she’d won May Queen as she spoke to Leevy. Katniss was surprised when Bristel and Digger asked to use their fire to toast with.

Katniss wished Bristel well.

Peeta caught up with her once again. “My mother said because of the special anniversary, the Queens are going to be granted housing on the Merchant side. My brother decided he didn’t want the bakery, so it’s all mine.”

“Congratulations,” Katniss said, snuggling into him. She belonged with him and she felt safe in his arms.

They watched the merriment of the residents all around them. Children danced around the bonfires as couples had Toastings and got married.

Katniss’ mother stood by herself, staring at the flames, an ethereal look upon her face.

Katniss walked over.

“Mother are you a…” Katniss drifted off.

“Sprite?” her mother laughed.

“Well…”

“Yes, the Covey are a special group, they have ancient blood, older than the time itself. Your cousin Dwight and I practice the old ways. When you were chosen, we made an offering so that you would be blessed.”

“Dwight is my cousin?” Katniss blinked.

“Yes, he’s a Barb Azure Baird descendant. Barb and Maude were cousins.”

Katniss didn’t know she had family that was Merchant. The line between the Merchants and Seam was very thin.

“There is magic in the world and it’s rooted in hope, Katniss,” her mother wisely said.

Impulsively she hugged her mother. “Thank you.”

“Go,” her mother said. “Enjoy your life.”

Katniss turned around and found Peeta beside her.

Peeta pulled her aside and kissed her tenderly; her body became aflame with want. Her eyes Sparkled.

As they snuck away, Katniss looked back and before her eyes, Effie transformed into a statuesque woman with long flowing hair and her dress had flowers embroidered on it. The well-dressed man standing next to her held the child that had sung. Katniss gasped when he transformed into a Stag, and the child transformed into the moon and rose up into the sky. The woman whom she thought was Effie mounted the Stag and Katniss could hear her voice as they flew up into the air…

“What’s done can’t be undone.”
__________________

Songs Used:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOAu-8DKtT8

Spring Song for kids | Easy Monkey Songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdBbBZkITxA

“Do-Re-Mi” - THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drnBMAEA3AM

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring 2022 #birthday #mega-aulover #submission #prompt

Mon, 16 May 2022 11:23:59

Author:@mega-aulover

Prompt: hellooo? it’s my birthday on 3rd May and I was wondering if I could request a bday fic maybe centred around/inspired by some kind of May Day tidings since my bday generally coincides with May Day (in the uk it’s the first Monday of may as opposed to the first day). preferably canon/In Panem. I’ll leave it quite open, doesn’t have to specifically be to do with an actual festival, just some early may good vibes ? [submitted by @shewakesupwiththesun]

Rating: T/G

Author’s Note: The prompt is for May Day, and my mind went to Beltane and I signed right up! I was trying to maintain May Day within canon but it wouldn’t work for what I have in mind. My head conjured the three witches at the beginning of Macbeth dancing around the pole to have a bit of fun and quoting a bit of Shakespeare on a Beltane, a sort of Fertility Mayhem - complete with a Maypole Dancing with sticks -. Keep a lookout for the following quote! I hope you like it. I did a lot of investigative research on May Pole dances, Morris Dancers, May Day, and Beltane. So happy Birthday, this is May Day well District Twelve style. BTW this wouldn’t have been possible without my wonderful Beta @norbertsmom. I hope you have a wonderful birthday!
__________________

Now let it work; mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt! – William Shakespeare -Julius Caesar, Act 3, Scene 2.

May Day Eve:

Three huddled creatures circled the giant pole with the brightly colored ribbon. An ancient tradition from days of old. They spun round and round the pole cackling as sparks of their magic flew through the air. Their hair trailed behind them as if illuminated by fire.

They were ambassadors of mischief, chaos, and trouble. Their voices began as whispers but their chanting grew as the moon rose in the inky night.

Their bodies became frenetic as they danced and chanted words of old. Words that contained old magic. The pole began to glow and to throw out sparks as the female forms danced with fervor and their cries reached the heavens and the pole’s glow slowly morphed from orange to a deep green.

Their chanting grew frenetic until drums could be heard and a voice whispered in the wind.

“Now let it work; mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!”

Hearing the words, the figures withdrew upon themselves until they became small points of lights that flew to different areas of the district. One flew to an open window and twirled about a golden head. Another traveled toward the train tracks. The last light floated to a humble home where love once abode. It flew to the small creature whose heart once was abundant in love but was now mistrustful of it. The small light glowed as this was whom the greatest gift was to be bestowed.

As the night wore on and the wind picked up, the residents of District 12 slept peacefully. Unbeknownst to them, this year Beltane had come to District Twelve.

May Day:

Katniss dreamt she was deep in the forest wearing a cloak of deep green; the forest floor felt like moss underneath her feet. There was a mist rising from the floor as she moved, her bow in hand. She was chasing a stag, a brilliant white stag that glowed in the darkened wood.

The Stag stopped running as it came to a clearing. It turned to her. Its eyes were clear blue, as beautiful as the pure glistening water. The Stag looked upon her with hauntingly familiar eyes. Eyes that she had seen all of her life and that made her heart tremble. The Stag took a step toward her and it began to transform.

Laying down her weapon, Katniss took a step toward it, when the heavens were filled with a shriek. Glancing up she was blinded and the voice transformed into Prim’s voice.

“Katniss,” Prim shouted, jumping on the bed.

Momentarily, Katniss was out of sorts as she navigated from the dream world to her reality. She groaned at the feel of her sister’s body on top of hers.

“Katniss,” Prim squealed, placing her cold hands on Katniss’ face.

“Prim,” Katniss grumbled. “Get your cold paws off of me!” Prim’s blonde hair fell around Katniss. Her face filled Katniss’ field of view.

“You’re a candidate!” Her sister squeaked in that high-pitched tone only a girl of fourteen was capable of.

“What?”

“Primrose, please get off your sister. You know this is her day off and she deserves to get some sleep,” their mother chided softly.

Their mother Fae was right. Katniss didn’t have many days off. After her last Reaping, Katniss sought employment at the mines. She was loath to do so because of her fear of the mines. Nonetheless, one week after her last day of school Katniss found herself being transported into the bowels of the earth. She uncharacteristically threw up at the end of the day behind her house.

“But mother,” Prim Protested. “Katniss-” Prim began but was interrupted by their mother.

“Your sister needs her rest, Primrose. Not only is Katniss working in the mines, but she’s hunting whenever she can to put food on the table and to help you with your future.”

Prim turned pink and gave their mother the infamous Everdeen scowl.

Katniss sat up, rubbing her eyes. Going to work in the mines was hard, but the income was a valuable incentive. Katniss did not want the same fate for her sister, and with the extra coin she gained, she secured a tutor for Prim. There was a new doctor in town who needed an assistant. Katniss paid the Doctor to teach Prim.

Katniss was hopeful her sister would make it past the Reaping. Prim had never been forced to take Tesserae and as long as Katniss drew breath her sister would never have to. Once her sister was of age she could easily take the test to become the doctor’s assistant. After 5 years of practice with the Doctor, Prim would become a doctor. So that even if the doctor left or died, her sister could continue to peacefully practice medicine. Prim could open a practice and tend the people of the Seam, the Merchants, and the Peacekeepers.

“It’s okay,” Katniss said, yawning to her mother. Turning to Prim she asked, “What’s got you all riled up?”

“You got a rose!” Prim squealed with all the giddiness of a teenage girl pumped up on sweets.

“A what?”

“You’ve been selected.” Prim clapped her hands and then began speaking so fast she didn’t even stop to take a breath. “There was a rose outside with your name on the label and now you have to figure out who your sweetheart is by selecting the right basket and at the end of the day you’re going…”

“Prim, please,” Fae interrupted.

Her sister didn’t have to finish the run-on sentence. Katniss knew exactly what the rose meant. To Katniss, it was worse than the Reaping. It meant that at the end of the day, whoever was chosen to be the May Queen was married to the owner of the basket.

“But there’s a good chance Katniss can become the May Queen and get married,” Prim said enthusiastically.

“Prim,” Fae said sternly. “Please go downstairs and get the package that came with the rose. It’ll be your sister’s dress and the things she’s to wear.”

“Oh, I’ll get to participate in the may dance this year!” Prim gasped and leaped from the bed in her hurry to get out of the room.

“I’m sorry Katniss,” Fae began, sitting down on the bed. “I know you didn’t want to get married, and here you are put into a position where you might have to get hitched in front of the entire town.”

Katniss felt cheated. She’d survived the reaping only to come to a fate worse than death. She swallowed as hot tears threatened to spill down her cheeks. Katniss opened her mouth, but the words became stuck.

“I’m sorry, Katniss, just take a deep breath,” Fae instructed.

Katniss’ chest hurt, it was as if she couldn’t breathe. The feeling was akin to when she was eight years old. Katniss tried to swallow a large nut and it got lodged in her throat and she couldn’t breathe. If it wasn’t for her father’s quick action, she could have died. At this moment, she felt as if she could crumble and dissipate into ash.

“Feeling better?” Fae asked after a few moments of deep breathing.

Katniss nodded, taking one more deep cleansing breath.

“I wish there was a way around this,” her mother said, picking up her hand.

“So do I.”

“But this is a tradition that has been around since before the war. Your father’s family was Covey.”

“Really?” Katniss didn’t recall her grandmother, she only knew the woman had the ability to sing and play any verse she listened to.

“Your grandmother, Maude Ivory, told me that before the war the Covey used to travel to District Twelve and set up the fair. They set up the way the May Queen was chosen. Once the war ended, they weren’t allowed to leave the district, so the tradition continued.”

The Capitol allowed District Twelve the tradition because many babies were born after May Day. It was much like the Fall Festival. The one difference was instead of being capped off by the Sweethearts’ Dance, May Day was capped off by a Toasting. In Katniss’s opinion, it was a ridiculous, trivial, archaic custom that the residents of District Twelve still upheld.

Many believed that a marriage done during the May Day Festival led to a full and prosperous life. Those who danced during the Sweethearts’ Dance in the Fall married during the May Day Fair.

Those with unmarried children clamored for their daughters and sons to be part of the Royal Court. Of the four virginal women selected as part of the Royal Court, one became the Queen. The title of May Queen was desired by all of the women in the District, for it was believed she would be blessed by the gods. Katniss was dubious about this so-called blessing. Mrs. Mellark was crowned May Queen and her poor husband suffered quietly at the hands of that witch.

“I don’t believe in any of it. Not the sacrifice of the May Queen in marriage for the continued fertility of the district, nor do I believe in May Day being the reason why so many women are successful in birthing children after the fair.”

“Katniss,” her mother warned.

“Mother, you and I both know everybody gets drunk and it leads to a lot of shenanigans.”

“Katniss, you don’t have to believe.” Her mother shrugged. “You just have to enjoy the day for what it is.”

Katniss scowled, questioning what her mother was going on about.

“It’s a day for the miners to be out of the mines. A day where they can enjoy their families.”

Her mother made a valid point. The miners only had a few days off, other than May Day. There was Labor Day where all citizens were required to attend a display of the President’s power. It was basically a broadcast of a parade of the Capitol’s military’s might. The Reaping day on July the 4th, and New Year’s Day. Other than that the mines were always open.

“Plus it’s a day your father and I always took advantage of when we were courting,” Fae said, her cheeks turning red.

Katniss frowned.

“It’s a day where the social divide between the Seam and the Merchants doesn’t exist. When we were courting we took advantage of the day; we were able to dance with one another. Your father proposed to me on May Day.”

Katniss had never thought of May Day that way.

“The only saving grace is that they hardly choose a girl from the Seam. The last girl from the Seam to win was Hazelle.”

Katniss blinked when hearing the news. Her mother was right, a girl from the Seam was always chosen to be part of the Royal Court, but they never won the title. “You’re right.”

“Feeling better?” Fae asked.

“Yes,” Katniss nodded.

“Good,” her mother stood from the bed. She paused. “I haven’t been the mother you deserve Katniss, but I will always try.”

Katniss nodded. After her father’s death, Katniss also lost her mother to despair and mourning. Even with the right medication, her mother was never the same.

“Thank you, mother.”

“Now all I have to do is keep Prim away from you, so that she doesn’t drive you crazy.” Her mother chuckled.

As if on cue, Prim’s heavy footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs.

“Prim, help me get the bath and oils ready,” Fae said, drawing Prim away from the door of the bedroom. “We’ve got to make sure your sister looks resplendent.”

Katniss groaned as she flopped back onto her back. She closed her eyes and she pictured the Stag in her mind. He was magnificent, with those piercing blue eyes. At the thought of the magnificent creature, her heart sped up. As she recalled the Stag transforming into a figure, instantly she was transported back to the forest. She stood at the edge of the clearing, her bow in hand.

Like before, Katniss lowered her bow and she stepped out into the clearing. The Stag was transforming into the body of a man. His face was hidden by a stag headdress. He wore no shirt and soft brown pants. His thighs were thick and his waist was narrow. Katniss appreciated his broad shoulders and muscular arms.

His thick arms reached out as if calling her. Katniss took a step toward him. Her pristine dress was flowing in a slight breeze and as she stepped, flowers appeared. She had just reached the man when her dream ended and Katniss found herself staring up at the ceiling of her bedroom. Her mother’s voice was calling to her to come downstairs.

Katniss got up and slowly made her way downstairs where her mother and sister were waiting for her. Taking a bath wasn’t the bad part, it was the shaving. She had to remove the hair from her legs and other places that Katniss would rather not think of. Her mother and sister rubbed aromatic oils on her arms and legs. Katniss did the same for her body. Her hair was brushed out and her dark tresses glowed.

Her mother and sister left the room to get themselves dressed. Katniss sighed as she picked up the white frilly dress she was supposed to wear. She grimaced at her image in the mirror. There was a knock on the door.

“Katniss, are you finished?” Prim asked impatiently.

Katniss chuckled, as she glanced at herself in the old mirror in the room where they bathed. She wasn’t used to seeing herself so made up. She wasn’t what anyone would call beautiful; she was rather on the plain side, small in stature, and she didn’t have many womanly assets.

However, standing in the dress, she glowed. She opened the door. Both her mother and her sister gasped.

“You’re so beautiful,” Prim whispered.

Katniss glanced at her image in the mirror as her mother placed a crown of flowers on her head. Her baby sister’s reflection showed Katniss what true beauty looked like. Prim looked like their mother, blonde with pale blue eyes, she was also tall, willowy, and graceful. And one day she would be the most beautiful girl in the entire district.

“You’re the gorgeous one,” Katniss said, and watched her sister’s cheeks flush to a pretty shade of pink.

Prim twirled around in her light pink dress. The siblings of the Royal Court were automatically included in the Maypole Dance.

“Well, this is as good as it gets,” Katniss said, winking at her sister. “I think it’s time we headed down to the celebrations.

All three Everdeen’s left, unsure of what the day would bring but hoped the odds would be in their favor.

When they arrived at the festival, Katniss gasped. Normally May Day’s were held by the Justice Building. This year it was held in the meadow. A giant Maypole was decorated in bright colorful strings.

Around the Maypole, there were kiosks with all sorts of refreshments and foods. All of the kiosks were brightly decorated with flowers.

Beyond that, there were other kiosks set up with all manner of business and trade, along with fairground games. There was a small stage set up to the right of the pole. A table filled to the brim with baskets lay in wait to be chosen by one of the Royal Court.

There was even a dance floor underneath a tarp. everything was decorated and it looked like a magical field. As if the fairies had set the stage for a romantic day.

There was a group of women clad in white off to the side speaking to an impeccably dressed man. There to his side stood Effie Trinket. Katniss frowned, Effie Trinket never came to these sorts of District Events. Yet there she was dressed like a floral bouquet.

“Ladies, ladies,” she shouted.

“I guess, I’ll see you guys later.” Katniss sighed.

“Good luck, Katniss,” Prim said.

“Have fun,” Fae whispered.

Katniss straightened her shoulders before heading to the group. As she walked she wasn’t watching where she was going and she ran into a solid form.

“Oh, sorry,” she mumbled as she looked up. Her eyes nearly doubled in size when she saw Peeta Mellark staring down at her.

“Katniss,” Peeta said, his voice sounding a bit off.

“Hello,” she greeted, trying to stop her voice from sounding curt.

“You’re in the Royal Court?” Peeta asked, his face was splotchy.

Katniss nodded. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She shifted on her feet, not knowing what to say to him. They had never spoken before.

“Me too,” Peeta said. “I’m a suitor,” he pointed at the table behind him. “Well, got to go…I’m pulling double duty at my family’s kiosk.” His face got redder and redder as Peeta kept on talking. “I’ll keep an eye out for you sister…” By this point even his neck was red. “Okay, good luck.” Peeta nearly tripped as he walked away.

Seeing him and hearing him trip over his words caused Katniss to smile. She was sure by the tinge of heat in her cheeks she was blushing. There was a weird warm fluttering sensation in her stomach that she’d never experienced before. Shaking her head, Katniss marched to where the group of girls dressed in similar dresses were gathered.

An impeccably dressed man smiled at her. “Ah, you must be the last candidate we’ve been waiting for, Miss Everdeen.”

“Why are there ten of us?” Dawn Everett asked.

“All will be explained shortly,” Effie said.

Katniss scowled at the sight of Dawn. The perky blonde menace liked to bully those who she considered beneath her.

“But I demand to know now,” Dawn said, stomping her foot.

“Do you wish to continue as a Candidate?” Effie cooly questioned, in that posh Capitolite accent of hers.

Dawn shut her mouth.

“Ugh,” Katniss murmured, disgusted by the blonde’s atrocious attitude.

“I know,” Madge said next to Katniss.

Katniss turned to find Madge dressed in a similar white frilly dress. Katniss was overjoyed to find a friendly face in the crowd.

“How did you get roped into this?” Katniss said in a low whisper.

“I think my father had a hand in this and all because I didn’t want to get married to the boy from District Two he wanted me to marry,” Madge grumbled.

“Sorry, Madge,” Katniss said.

“At least the dress isn’t pink,” Madge said.

Katniss laughed. “Thank goodness for small favors.”

“Adeline Cartwright,” Dawn’s annoying voice carried over the voices of the other girls. “What are you doing here? You…”

Katniss and Madge made a beeline for where Delly Cartwright stood.

Delly looked pale and her head was downcast.

Katniss linked her arm with the poor girl. Delly wasn’t ugly, but she had the misfortune of being rounder than the other girls, and her hair was a darker blond than the rest of the girls from the Merchant side.

“Careful what you say to her,” Madge interrupted Dawn. “We wouldn’t want Miss Trinket to hear of your abhorrent behavior, would we?”

Dawn frowned, her eyes blazing at Madge. She quickly turned and walked away.

“You okay, Dells?” Madge asked.

“I’m okay,” Delly’s voice came out in a whisper.

“You don’t have to be scared of her,” Madge said. “Katniss and I, we’ve got you.”

“Well ladies,” Bristel said, marching up to them. “That was pretty impressive?”

“Thanks,” Madge said.

“Everdeen, I didn’t expect you to be here. Normally they choose one Seam girl at these shindigs.”

“I don’t even know how or why I’m here?” Katniss questioned. “What about you? Why are you here?”

“I’m the only unmarried girl left in my year. I work in the mines and I don’t really have time to meet anyone.” Bristel shrugged. “Who are your friends Everdeen?”

Bristel was on Gale’s team in the mines. She was a bright girl but often was considered one of the guys.

“Well this is Delly Cartwright and that’s Madge Undersee,” Katniss introduced them.

“Nice to meet you,” Delly greeted.

“I’m Madge, welcome to our little hodgepodge group,” Madge greeted smiling.

“Much obliged, Bristel Peacewillow at your service.”

“How much longer do you think before this starts?” Delly asked.

“Don’t know, but I think they might be waiting for the band,” Madge said, pointing to where the musicians were gathering.

“Great, I’m not sure how to walk in these shoes, and now I have to worry about dancing in them,” Bristel said.

Madge laughed. “Don’t worry Bristel, we’ll help you.”

They began to wander around the stage area and they came upon the baskets. Typically a group of 15 men was chosen to make baskets the week before May Day. They were the ones in charge of decorating the town, getting the pole set up, and setting up the festivities.

This year there was double the number of baskets. The men with the help of the Capitol made the Meadow look beautiful. They encircled the area of the fair with poles wrapped up in flowers and tiny lights that would illuminate the fair when it got dark and the final chase began.

“Which one do you think you will choose?” Bristol asked.

“I don’t know?” Madge replied as her eyes skimmed the baskets.

Choosing the basket was a very important ritual. It determined who you could potentially marry. Katniss recognized Gale’s and Thom’s baskets right away. Gale’s was covered with a pretty lace napkin. It had the pattern of the Hawthorn Tree on it. Thom’s had the handkerchief his mother gave him. It was gray with pink flowers embroidered on it.

Katniss didn’t want to choose Gale’s because he was like family and that was just ick. However, Thom’s basket was a good choice. He wasn’t a bad prospect and Katniss knew that if for some unfortunate event she was chosen as the May Queen, she could make a life with Thom.

“Who do you think the baskets belong to?” Delly asked.

“Those two over there are Gale’s and Thom’s,” Katniss said under her breath. “Thom has the one with the pink embroidery.”

“That one is Peeta’s,” Delly whispered. The basket Delly discreetly pointed to had a small blank card attached.

Katniss stopped breathing at the mention of Peeta’s name. She always had that reaction to her boy with the bread. She never said anything to anyone, but he was someone who was important to her in ways she couldn’t explain.

“Leevy told me her brother’s had honeysuckle twined around the handle,” Bristel said in a low voice.

“That’s Dwight’s,” Delly whispered, as she nodded to the largest basket.

“Dwight?” The girls asked.

“Dwight Baird,” Madge said. “Real quiet, his father run’s the Train Station.”

Katniss recalled the shy boy with the glasses. There was something off about him.

“That basket with the green napkins, that’s Dawn’s ex, Fred.”

“Ugh,” Bristol said. “Good to know.”

Fred was in the same class as Bristel and Gale. He was all muscle and no brain. He tended to follow whatever Dawn wanted, and he had a reputation as a jerk. But when Dawn broke up with him he became more relaxed and goofy and people started to like him.

“How do you know all of these things?” Bristol asked Delly.

“Everyone ignores me when they’re in the store.” Delly shrugged. “They talk and talk, and they don’t see me.”

“Well, we see you,” Madge said, nodding.

“That’s right, we stick together,” Bristel agreed.

They moved away from the baskets; they didn’t want to get in trouble. Effie and the man were looking at them.

“Why are there so many girls this year?” Delly asked as she glanced around shyly.

“I’m not sure. My parents wouldn’t tell me anything,” Madge said.

“Well, whatever the reason,” Katniss began. “It’s good enough to have the Capitol represented in today’s celebrations.”

“Ladies,” Effie said as she walked by, gathering the candidates. “Please, queue up to walk onto the stage.”

They made a line and walked onto the stage. It was an odd assortment of women on the stage; very few of them would be considered beautiful by Capitol standards. Normally, only the most attractive females were chosen. This year only Madge and Dawn stood out from the rest of the pack. There were ten girls altogether.

“Welcome, welcome to the annual May Day Celebration,” Effie said in her Capitol accent.

The crowd gathered was a mixture of both Seam and Merchants. The crowd clapped politely.

“This year, in honor of the 100th Anniversary, we have Reaped ten lovely ladies. Of these ten, there will be four May Queens. One to represent the four corners of the Earth. There will be an East Queen, West Queen, a North Queen, and a South Queen.”

A murmur rippled through the crowd.

“Each candidate in the Royal Court shall be judged by you. So ladies, remember to be courteous, polite, and good-natured as you walk around the fair. Now, the introductions by alphabetical order. "Abigail Adams,” Effie called.

Abigail, a diminutive girl who was a year ahead of Katniss, stepped forward. Abigail’s cousin Louisa Adams was called next. Delly’s name was called next and she was followed by Emily Donelson. Katniss was called next and she was followed by Dawn. Ida McKinley then Bristel, followed by Edith Roosevelt, and finally Madge.

As the crowd clapped, Katniss caught Peeta standing with his family. She schooled her face to not react to him. She’d been doing this ever since she was eleven years old. She could not forget the person who represented hope to her.

“Now, to commence May Day, may I present this year’s Maypole Dancers.”

A gaggle of giggling school-aged kids came out and each took a string. Katniss’ sister was present as was Delly’s younger brother Glint. They ran around the Pole doing intricate dancing, winding themselves around the pole as they sang. Their dancing wove the brightly colored strings around the pole in an intricate pattern. Everyone clapped as the music filled the air with the children’s songs.

They made a web as they danced the Gypsies’ Dance. Katniss watched as her sister sailed around the pole ducking and weaving herself gracefully as she held the bright yellow ribbon. When the children were finished, Katniss followed the rest of the Royal Court as they were paraded around the townsfolk. Many threw chains of flowers at them, others cheered until they ended up at the maypole.

Each girl took a colorful ribbon and began moving. Katniss hoped that she didn’t make a fool of herself, yet as she began to move joy filled her heart and she laughed along with the others as they moved about back and forth around the pole. Katniss swore she thought she saw the pole glow.

Katniss nearly stumbled when in her periphery she saw the man with the Stag headdress at the edge of the crowd with his muscular arms crossed over his chest. Her heart raced and her vision blurred as his familiar blue eyes reminded her of another’s eyes. But it couldn’t be, Katniss rationed. Everything seemed to speed up and Katniss found herself bobbing underneath Bristel’s arms. She glanced back at the spot and she found Gale and Thom standing there.

Then the dance was suddenly over and they were all breathless and joyful. And there was a great shout as the festivities began.

The next dance was the dance of Morris. The thirty suitors who were chosen were now wearing shirts covered with strips of fabric in every shade of green imaginable. Their pants had bells attached on their knees. They were divided into three groups of ten and were provided with long sticks. As the lively music began to play, they danced and hopped and they waved their sticks in the air. They clashed their sticks almost as if they were in a fight. The clicking noise of the sticks was done in tune with the music.

The local lore was that this was done in jest as a way to push back all of the evils that could harm the families. Katniss saw it as a way for the men to preen about like peacocks.

Behind her, the crowd cheered and laughed. Some even danced, replicating the dancing the young suitors did. Couples hugged and romanticized their wedded bliss.

Katniss noticed Gale, Thom, and Peeta were placed in the same group. Her eyes began trailing after Peeta as was her custom. Ever since he’d thrown her those two loaves of bread there’d been a connection between them.

They always found themselves staring at each other, but never said anything. Katniss was beholden to Peeta; he saved her family during the worst of times. Katniss had never found a way to pay him for his kindness. As she watched him he made eye contact with her and she shyly turned away.

Gale winked at the group of girls as he danced and Thom nearly fell trying to get them to pay attention to him. Katniss watched Madge chuckle at Thom’s antics, which only emboldened him.

Peeta, however, caught her looking at him and his face became splotchy again. Katniss once more had that pleasant warm fluttering feeling in her stomach. She wanted to look away, but couldn’t. There was something alluring about the way he moved. Peeta’s moves were fluid and pleasing. He was a wrestler and she guessed that was why he was so nimble.

When the dance ended, the men were ushered off to one side of the stage. Even though they just finished dancing, they were all pushing and shoving each other jovially.

As Katniss stood there watching, Effie came around handing each one of the ladies of the Royal court a white belt with a colorful strip of fabric on either side. Katniss wondered why.

Her question must have shown on her face, for Effie said, “It’s for the chase. It will help us pare down the men from thirty to twenty.”

Katniss turned to Delly whose pale blue eyes were wide.

“Ladies, at the sound of the horn you will run. The suitors will chase you and grab one of the strips of brightly colored ribbon. The men who don’t get a ribbon will be eliminated.”

There was a nervous excitement amongst the girls. Katniss shivered, not liking the idea of being the prey. She was used to being the hunter.

Katniss began to use that hunter’s eye her father taught her when she was a child. Her father always told her that being observant was often the greatest tool a hunter had at their disposal. Katniss’ eyes sought out Gale and she noticed Gale’s eyes took on that gleam she’d seen in the forest. And she knew instantly he was aware they were going to give chase to the Royal Court.

Katniss was glad she was quick on her feet. She was one of the fastest in school, she often outran her classmates in physical education class.

Katniss knew Gale was strategic; he would target someone easy to make sure he was still in the running as a suitor. Gale wanted a family and thus far he hadn’t found anyone he wanted to settle down with.

Her eyes shifted to Thom. Thom wasn’t as tall as Gale, and he was pretty but Gale was considered ruggedly handsome. However, Thom was lazy and no doubt he would go for the girl that was closest to him.

Katniss’s gaze shifted to Peeta. He was the dark horse. Peeta was competitive and he did have the stamina to chase her. She’d been to all of his wrestling competitions and even while his competitors were slowing down he looked as if he still had enough energy. To her knowledge, Peeta was beaten only once by his brother and that was because his brother cheated but hadn’t been caught by the referee.

The tempo of the music became faster and it filled the air with anticipation of the next event. It was as if the air was infused with magic. The crowd pressed closer as if to aid the suitors in their chase.

Katniss glanced around, finding her route. She would use her small stature to her advantage.

Suddenly a great horn was heard, and Katniss took off. She could hear the squealing of the girls in her group as she slipped through the crowd. Her heart beat quickly in her chest as she ran. The crowd roared and she glanced back and saw as Suitors grabbed the ribbons and held them up high in triumph. That’s when she saw Peeta eyeing her.

The thrill of being caught by him caused that flirty warmth to spread through her body and she laughed as she pressed forward passed the throng of people. Katniss saw a few girls breaking through as well.

“Run, Katniss, run!” Katniss heard her sister calling out to her from the sidelines.

Katniss heard Madge calling her name. Madge and Bristel had followed her along with a few other girls, laughing and cheering the other on.

Katniss ran into the woods that ran parallel to the path that led to the town. The girls looked at her for guidance.

“Hide yourselves,” Katniss ordered. The girls scattered.

They knew they had a better chance of fooling the boys in the woods than out in the open. Her intention was to find a tree to climb into regardless of her dress, but as she cleared the forest she heard heavy footfalls behind her.

Looking behind her, she saw the man with the Stag headdress. Katniss gasped and ran. Her body became heated and not from the chase, but from the thought of being caught.

The forest was filled with mist and she could hear chanting as she came to a rock wall. There had never been a rock wall in the district. Katniss pounded her hands against the rock before turning around. Her hands grasped the cool rock surface and it slowly morphed into the rough texture of tree bark. The mist disappeared and Peeta stood before her.

“Katniss?” he questioned.

“Peeta,” Katniss whispered.

“Are you okay?” He took a hesitant step toward her. “Your eyes were glazed over and you didn’t hear me when I called.”

“Yes,” Katniss stammered. “I’m fine.”

He walked up to her, his eyes peering down at her, and Katniss couldn’t help but look up at him. There was something magnetic about Peeta, something pulling her to him. She wanted to put her hands on his chest but dared not.

“Would you mind if I grabbed one of your ribbons?”

Unable to talk, she shook her head no. After all, he had caught her fair and square. Peeta gently tore off the ribbon as if doing so would hurt her. He was always gentle and sweet. In school, she noted that even though he was popular, he was never unkind to anyone, not even those who were designated as being an oddball, ugly, or unseemly.

He was the same way in the bakery. While his brothers were borderline rude with the people, Peeta was always kind. She often caught him giving cookies to the Seam kids at lunch and sometimes she’d seen him quietly bring stale bread to the widows or the elderly in the Seam in the pre-dawn hours.

Just then they heard Fred yell in the woods. His steps were uncoordinated and he cursed under his breath. Katniss wanted to laugh.

Fred burst into their private moment together and Peeta winked and took her other ribbon and stuffed it into his pants pocket.

“Move over Mellark,” Fred said, striding up to her.

“She doesn’t have anymore,” Peeta said, holding up the ribbon in his hand. Just then they heard giggling and laughter and male voices as they shouted triumphantly.

“Awe man,” Fred said, pouting.

“I think we should get going,” Peeta said, holding out his arm to her.

Katniss nodded and slowly slipped her hand through his arm and was shocked by how hard and firm his muscles were. That floaty tingly warmth was back in her stomach.

As they reached the fairgrounds they saw that Bristel was being led by two men, one was a man with muscle in his neck and that made Bristel look small and diminutive compared to his size. The other was a slender man with a hook nose. Madge was being escorted by Thom who looked happier than a bear with a pot of honey.

This May Day was very surprising.

Katniss cleared her throat and whispered, “What are you going to do with the other ribbon?”

“I’m going to give it to Dwight,” Peeta said.

“Dwight?”

“He’s a nice guy and a lot of girls don’t like him. But in actuality, he is very shy and gets really nervous around girls. He also likes to collect flowers. He’s very interested in botany. It’s why a lot of girls think he’s weird.”

Katniss watched Peeta lead her to where Dwight sat with his hand in his face.

“Hello, Dwight,” Peeta said.

“Oh hello, Peeta,” Dwight said in a sad tone.

“Dwight,” Katniss greeted. “I think Peeta has something for you.”

Dwight looked up and saw that Peeta had two ribbons in his hands. His eyes widened behind his glasses. He stood up and sputtered. “Peeta? What? I can't…”

“Oh, yes you can,” Katniss said, handing him one of the ribbons. “Now let’s go. I’m sure there’s a basket ceremony coming up next and I’m awfully hungry.”

“Thank you, Miss Everdeen, thank you,” Dwight said, clutching the ribbon.

Katniss smiled at Dwight. “I hope you make a match today.”

“It is my fervent hope that I find someone who is like-minded and as generous as you and Peeta are,” Dwight said, taking her hand and bowing to her as he placed a kiss on her hand. “You have restored my hope.”

Katniss blushed because she didn’t like to be touched but as she pulled her hand away she realized something, Peeta resembled her hope.

Of the Thirty suitors, there were now Twenty.

The Suitors were now anxiously awaiting the Basket ceremony. Katniss watched Dawn and her little entourage question the different siblings of the suitors that were left. She was trying to discover the owners of the different baskets.

“I hope she doesn’t get to be May Queen,” Delly said.

“I hope she gets mud on her face,” Bristel muttered.

The Royal Court was called back to the stage. The crowd was waiting for the all-important basket choice.

Dawn brashly narrowed her eyes at Delly and announced. “Listen to me very carefully. I’m going to choose Peeta Mellark’s basket. So I suggest that you do not touch his basket.”

Delly paled.

“I suggest you stay in line Dawn lest Effie catches you talking,” Katniss growled.

Dawn huffed and muttered, “Seam brat,” under her breath.

Delly turned to Katniss. “Please don’t let her choose Peeta’s basket.”

Katniss hadn’t been sure of who she was going to pick. Earlier in the day, she thought of choosing Thom’s because he was fun. She couldn’t choose Gale’s because she thought of him as a brother. But knowing Dawn wanted to get Peeta’s basket, she could stop the annoying girl and grab Peeta’s basket. Katniss thought this could be a way to repay her debt to him.

As she thought this her hands shook slightly and her heart did a small pitter-patter dance inside of her chest at the thought of having to spend the day with Peeta.

However, Katniss shook her head. There was no way she could choose Peeta, he was a Merchant. Katniss hated having to let Dawn win, but Katniss knew she had to choose someone sensible, someone from the Seam and Thom was her best bet.

Effie once more took to the microphone and everyone was attentive to the most exciting part of the day. Effie began calling their names and Katniss watched as girl after girl chose a basket leaving Peeta’s untouched. Katniss was surprised by Delly’s choice but didn’t say anything.

Because when it was her turn to stand in front of the table with all of the baskets Katniss reached out for Thom’s basket but she found she couldn’t reach it. Frowning, she once more reached out and everything around her blurred.

Katniss heard the voices of women chanting, “Now let it work; mischief, thou art afoot, Take thou what course thou wilt!”

Glancing ahead, she saw the figure of the man with the Stag headdress standing before her. He handed her a basket. Katniss felt her body go up in flames and it caused her to shiver. Then she heard laughter and saw three points of lights dancing around her. Katniss felt the weight of the basket in her hand.

Blinking, she stood up and found she had Peeta’s basket in her hand. Katniss’s eyes flew to Delly’s who was beaming at her and Dawn who was murderous at the moment.

Katniss wondered what the heck she’d gotten herself into.

(The End for Now...)

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring #birthday #mega-aulover #submission #prompt

Tue, 03 May 2022 08:30:40

Author:@endlessnightlock

Prompt: Canon-Divergent/ In Panem D12

“I waited for you” Peeta said but she didn´t reply so he kept talking “under the rain, Katniss. I waited for you, under the rain… why would you not show up?”

“I can’t do this anymore, Peeta”

“I thought you were braver!” he yelled at her looking for a reaction, something that will give him some hope. He could feel tears threatening to run down his face, but she didn’t answer and he ran away and slammed the door behind him. [submitted by @alwayseverlark]

Rating: T (for now?) for language and mention of nudity

Author’s Note: @alwayseverlark I made a few tweaks to your prompt, hope you don’t mind! This is probably the first of two parts to this story. I ran out of time to finish it but look for a conclusion soon. Word count: 1,035 words
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Streams of hot water ran out of the faucet, filling the tub and engulfing the chilly bathroom with steam and sound. Waiting for the tub to fill, Peeta tugged his rain and mud-laden sweater and undershirt off, ridding himself of the miserable weight of the wet wool. He dropped the clothes to the floor, and they landed with a wet splat on the boards, soon joined by pants, underwear, and socks once the rest of his clothing was stripped off.

Still shivering, Peeta shut the faucet off and climbed into the tub, submerging himself in water up to mid-chest. He’d like to run the bath higher—up to his neck at least or hell, maybe even over his head after this particular day, but the tub had long cracks running around the rim. He didn’t want to add mopping dirty bathwater off the floor to the chores he would have to catch up on later. Peeta planned to spend the rest of the evening flat on his face in bed, wishing the world away. Maybe the rest of the week. Who knew? He had nothing to look forward to anymore, now that Katniss was gone.

“What a shit day,” he murmured, closing his eyes, leaning back until his head rested on the lip of the tub.

Peeta lay in the tub, feeling curiously blank and numb. Only once the water went from hot to uncomfortably chilly, and he’d begun shivering again, he climbed out of the tub and drained the water. Then, of course, it took him dripping water on the bathroom floor to realize he didn’t have a towel with him, either.

What did it matter, though? He was just going to go crash on his bed. There was no one here to care if he walked around naked or if his sheets got wet. It was a depressing thought. He wanted someone to care about the stupid things he did or didn’t do.

Peeta assumed that life would be easier once his mother and father retired and moved out of the apartment above the bakery, leaving him alone to run the place with some hired help. He wouldn’t have dreamed he’d miss them.

With nothing other than the realization Katniss was never going to commit to a real relationship keeping him company tonight, evidenced by waiting two hours in the pouring rain outside the fence for her to meet him, Peeta desperately missed the days when his father and mother or two brothers were still living here.

Instead of dripping water on the bathroom floor all night, Peeta meandered his way down the hall toward his kitchen. Despite being naked and cold, he couldn’t find the energy to hurry. He couldn’t find it in himself to care about anything.

He paused next to the kitchen stove and picked up the tea kettle. Studying it stupidly, he wondered if he ought to fill it up and get it going, and why was brewing tea such a big decision to make, anyway? When he heard the back door of the bakery open.

Shit. Someone was downstairs.

His heart sunk when Katniss called his name. Why couldn’t she just go or stay, be with him or not? Katniss was the last person he wanted to see, even if his stupid heart skipped a traitorous beat at the sound of her voice. He’d meant to lock the door behind him when he got home.

But now she knew he was here, and it sounded like she was already making her way up the steps.

“Hang on a minute,” Peeta called out, “I’ve got to get—”

Katniss was fast on her feet and apparently, determined to see him, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise when she appeared in the doorway. Her eyes widened in shock at his nudity, and she staggered back onto the landing. “Why are you naked?” she asked, sounding shaken.

Peeta rolled his eyes at her dramatics. Katniss had a weird issue with nudity. Meanwhile, he had zero qualms about it. Who the hell cared about seeing some skin? It wasn’t like he had some raging erection at the moment; he was too depressed and cold to worry about that problem. Not that Peeta was in the habit of going sans clothing in her presence. They hadn’t done anything together that required the removal of any clothing. Now they never would, so you know what? Fuck it. If she wanted to stay and talk, she’d have to look at him.

“I just got out of the tub,” he said cooly, pulling out a kitchen chair and sitting down because, honestly, why did he care if she was uncomfortable? He was done thinking about her feelings. She obviously thought nothing of his.

If she wants to stay and talk, she’ll do it knowing my bare ass is right underneath the table, Peeta thought grimly. He’d enjoy watching her squirm.

“Oh,” she said.

“What do you want, Katniss?” Peeta asked. “I waited for you for hours in the pouring rain. Now I’m tired and irritated, and I want to go to bed.”

“I know,” Katniss said, inching back into the room, her gaze fixed on the wall behind him.

Peeta studied her closely. She looked contrite, but it pissed him off even more than he already was. She was always like this, sorry and regretful, but it never changed the simple fact she’d do it to him again days later if he let her.

“Where were you?” he asked.

Katniss shrugged; her expression was carefully blank. “I can’t do this anymore, Peeta.“

"I thought you were braver than this!” he yelled at her, looking for a reaction, something to give him some hope that he wasn’t the only one going crazy. “You never even tell me why you do this to me, Katniss! Sometimes I think you really care about me, but other times, god, I think you’re incapable of feeling anything at all!”

Peeta could feel tears threatening to run down his face. Katniss didn’t answer him, wouldn’t look at him, although the stiffness settled over her expression clued him in that he’d hurt her feelings. Good. Let her feel like he did for once.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring #spring 2022 #endlessnightlock #submission #prompt

Mon, 02 May 2022 08:31:05

Author:@rosegardeninwinter

Prompt:Happy spring, Everlarkers! I’m celebrating yet another birthday (seriously, one every single year?) on April 22, and I’d love to read something about Katniss, Peeta, and wildflowers. If that doesn’t spark joy, perhaps getting caught in a spring shower complete with a kiss in the rain. Happy writing! <3 [submitted by @hutchhitched]

Rating:G

Author’s Note: I went with the wildflowers! Happy Birthday!!!
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The lot between the Mellark and Everdeen properties was bought years ago for development, but for whatever reason, a house never went up, and the green field, bordered on each side by small Queen Annes and in the back by forest, became so overrun with wildflowers that no one had the heart to change it.

Four years old

Baby Prim is being loud, and her older sister cannot take it any more. She sets down her crayons, and leaves her writing practice behind, K - A - T - N - I - S - S neatly spelled out on the guide lines.

“Mommy!” she calls, hand already on the door handle, “I have to go outside or my head will ‘splode!”

Hearing no protest from the nursery, Katniss swings the screen door open and hops down the back steps into the meadow.

Spring is in full bloom, and Katniss, delicate even for a preschooler, steps into weeds and wildflowers up to her knees. At once, a cluster of buttercups catches her eye, and she scampers over to pluck a few, giving them an appreciatively dramatic sniff. Deciding she should pick Mommy a bunch of flowers like Daddy does, she tramps further into the field in search of more.

She finds some white flowers here, some blue ones there, and adds them to the bouquet in her tiny fist, but her present for Mommy is not quite right. It needs something more. She stands on her tiptoes to survey the area, and squeals in delight at the sight of the most gorgeous pink flowers she’s ever seen, growing in the garden of the house opposite. She runs over to them, her double braids bouncing against her gingham romper, and kneels in the dirt, touching the pink petals tenderly.

“Those are my Mommy’s flowers!” comes a voice, and Katniss startles as a boy carrying a juice box pokes his head around the side of the house. “Mommy!“

Katniss is frozen in fear in the flower bed as a tall woman appears, looking down at the tulip thief in surprise.

“Hello,” she says. “Where did you come from, sweetheart?”

Katniss silently points to her house. The woman smiles, and cards her hand through the curly hair of the boy beside her, who hasn’t let go of her apron. “It’s okay,” she says to him. “Do you like our flowers?”

“For my Mommy,” Katniss explains softly.

“Would you like me to show you how to pick one?”

“Yes, please.”

“Let me get my scissors,” says the boy’s mommy. “Peeta, will you stay here and ask our new friend what her name is?”

Peeta nods and holds out his juice box to Katniss, who, having earned his mother’s trust, has earned his too.

“Oh,” his mother laughs, “You’re so sweet to share, Peeta, but I’ll get her her own juice box. Do you like apple or cherry?”

“Cherry!” Katniss cries, hardly believing her luck.

The boy plops himself down next to her. “Hi,” he says around his straw. “I like cherry best too.”

“Hi,” Katniss says. “I’m Katniss. You didn’t ask. But that’s okay. I’ll tell you.”

“I’m Peeta,” says the boy.

“Can you spell it?“ Katniss says, feeling very proud of her own ability to spell her name.

“P - E - E - T - A,” the boy recites, grinning happily, then takes a long slurp of his juice.

“That was good,” Katniss praises. “Want to hear mine now? It’s got seven letters.”

He does, so she spells it, and he gives her a round of applause. His mother returns with the juice and the scissors, and Katniss watches with interest as she clips three (three!) whole tulips, and wraps them with a ribbon.

“Now,” says Peeta’s mom, “It isn’t polite to take things from people without asking. So, if you want flowers from our garden, you must ask. Can you do that?”

Katniss promises she can.

Peeta and his mother walk her back across the field to her own house. His mom carries the flowers, so Katniss holds her juice box in one hand, and her new friend’s hand in the other, and chatters nonstop about baby Prim, and about learning to write her name, and giggling with Peeta about how the cherry juice is making their tongues red all the way home.

Fourteenyears old

The light in Katniss’s window clicks on and off: SOS. Peeta grabs his jacket and slips quietly downstairs. He’s got a heavy tread, but luckily, his parents are heavy sleepers.

The air is cool with the scents of late August, and the meadow is shabbier as summer leaves the neighborhood behind. Katniss hurries across the lot to him, lit by the porch light from her parents’ house. In her hands, she carries a grocery store rose, twirling it nervously.

“Hey,” he says, as they meet in the middle of the field. “What’s up?”

In answer, Katniss thrusts out the rose, but not like a gift. Like she’s submitting something into evidence for a court case. She rolls the oversized sleeves of Peeta’s stolen wrestling sweater up her arms and says, “Gale asked me out.”

Well, that lands like a punch to the gut. Peeta gulps and tries to keep teenage jealousy at bay as he asks, “And you said yes?”

“I said I didn’t know.” She points to the flower. “He gave me that. He asked if he could kiss me. I said no to that, and said I needed to think about it. He’s really nice, but …” She shrugs. “I don’t know if I should date someone two years older than me. He’s in high school. He’s probably kissed lots of girls before me. What do you think?”

Peeta clears his throat. “I think you should do what you want,” he says.

“That’s not helpful,” she says. “I just don’t know …”

“If he was our age would you date him then?”

Katniss considers this, not for very long. “No,” she says, shaking her head. “I don’t think so.”

“Why’s that?”

She awkwardly fiddles with the end of her braid. “I don’t know … I guess … it would be weird, kissing him, and stuff. I don’t really know him … not like I know, like … you.”

“It would be kinda weird to kiss me too,” Peeta laughs, trying so hard to be casual he feels his stomach ache.

Katniss doesn’t say anything. She plucks a petal from the rose and lets it fall to the ground. “I don’t … I don’t think it would be that weird to kiss you,” she whispers.

They look at each other with wide eyes at that. Katniss gulps and tugs her sweatshirt collar up over her mouth in embarrassment. Peeta feels lightheaded, but he gets the words out, “Yeah. I don’t think so either, actually.”

Katniss blinks, gives a funny little giggle, and lurches up on her tiptoes to kiss him. It’s a very quick kiss, and very sloppy, but Peeta feels like every dashing black-and-white movie star his Granny Elise ever made him watch as he wraps his arms hesitantly around his best friend’s waist.

“Do you um … do you wanna date … me?”

Katniss bites her lip and nods, and then buries her face against his pajama shirt, and shakes with teenage happiness until Peeta finally shoos her inside with a dilapidated dandelion to replace the long forgotten rose.

Twenty-four years old

“What are you doing?” Katniss says, one hand on her impressive baby bump and the other covering her eyes as her husband steers her from their car and up onto the sidewalk.

“Just a couple more feet. Watch your step. Okay. And, now.”

Katniss opens her eyes. They’re standing in the lot between their parents’ houses: the lot where a hundred childhood games were played, where they had their first kiss, and where Peeta proposed to her with a pearl ring in a verdant patch of daises. Her heart drops as she sees the big SOLD sign staked into the dirt. It was only a matter of time before someone came along and bought all those memories.

She turns to Peeta with teary eyes and a frown. “Why are we here?”

Her husband smiles and kisses her forehead. “You don’t get it, do you?” he teases. “Baby brain. It’s ours, sweetheart. I bought it. We’re going to build our home here.”

Katniss gapes at him, shock and joy rendering her speechless. At last she manages to sputter out, “But we’re so close to our parents!”

Peeta laughs loudly. “Hey,” he says, “if you don’t want it …”

“No, no!“ Katniss says. “I want it. I want it.”

“It just seemed right,” he says. “That we should have it. It’s felt like ours since …”

“Since I tried to steal your Mom’s tulips,” Katniss laughs, nudging her husband. “Kismet.”

He kisses her, and then scoops her up in a bridal carry, proudly bearing her over the nonexistent threshold of their as yet imaginary home, the flowers beneath their feet swaying in the breeze like the prettiest entry mat in the world.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring #spring 2022 #rosegardeninwinter #submission #prompt

Fri, 22 Apr 2022 08:30:33

Author:@norbertsmom

Prompt: I’d like to request a prompt for my birthday 04/20

When journalist Katniss Everdeen is taking hostage by a group of terrorists she was investigating, a Special Force unit of four men is dispatched to free her.

Peeta Mellark is part of the unit.

A relentless pursuit begins between her kidnappers and the group of soldiers who risk their lives for her. Specially a blue-eyed soldier [submitted by @alwayseverlark]

Rating:M for mentions of abduction, human trafficking, violence, and future smut.

Summary: Investigative reporter Katniss Everdeen is looking into the disappearances of young men and women from the outer districts. When she herself disappears, Peeta Mellark and he fellow Special Forces unit are call in to save her.

Takes place in an AU universe where the 10th Hunger Games were the last. Coriolanus Snow never became president. Katniss is still from District 12, but without the misery and starvation.

Author’s Note: Happy birthday, @alwayseverlark. Here’s part one of your birthday fic. I’ll have the rest of it posted soon.
_______________

Katniss settles down at her computer with a half-eaten sandwich in her hand, as the screen comes to life. Her sister Prim’s bright smiling face fills the screen and Katniss can’t help but smile back at her.

“How was your day, Little Duck?” Katniss asks before taking a big bite of her peanut butter sandwich.

“Clinicals are kicking my butt, but I love it. How’s your day going? Any leads on the disappearances?”

“The receptionist at the orchard wouldn’t let me in to see the foreman, even though I had an appointment. Apparently they didn’t know who I was until I showed up or they never would have agreed to see me. She tried to tell me they had no records of missing employees. People just run off. Can you believe it?”

Prim shakes her head.

Katniss finishes off her sandwich and takes a big drink of water.

“When I pushed back and demanded copies of their employment retention records, the smarmy foreman came out of the office. He tried to tell me he’d love to help me, but he couldn’t possibly share employee’s private information.”

“What did you do?”

I reminded him that the orchard is owned by the district, and that retention records are public property and he is required to provide them to anyone who asks.”

“What happened then,” Prim asks with a smirk.

“Oh, you should have seen his face, Prim. It went ghostly white. Quite the contrast to the odd black facial hair he was sporting. But he quickly regained his composure and assured me he would have the records for me first thing in the morning.”

“Good. He probably never had anyone talk to him like that before, standing up for herself.”

“Probably not,” Katniss says. “I did talk to one of the employees. A young woman, about your age, named Rue pulled me aside as I was leaving the office.”

“What did she tell you?” Prim asked excitedly.

“She gave me the names of a few people to look into. She knows for a fact that a few have gone missing. She had a friend named Thresh who would never leave his sister and grandmother all alone. And one of her former classmates disappeared right after she got accepted into college. She and her family had been saving for her tuition for years. She left everything behind.”

“Yeah, those both seem pretty suspicious. You think the foreman is in on it?”

“Oh yeah. That’s why I set up a camera outside his office. Want to see what going on there? I can share the screen with you.”

“Sure,” Prim said, excitedly. “Let’s see what you got.”

“Don’t be too excited, Prim. Investigating is slow going. Sometimes nothing happens for days,” Katniss says as she get the split screen set up.

“I know, but I’ve only ever seen home in District 12 and school in District 4. I’d like to see the world like you do, Katniss.”

The view on the screen is dimly lit because it’s nearing sunset. The trees in the background sway in the wind, but otherwise, there’s no movement.

“See, pretty dull. Nothing going on,” Katniss says.

“It’s still nice. Look at that orchard. It must smell heavenly, all those fruit trees,” Prim says dreamily.

“Definitely better than twelve,” Katniss agrees with a chuckle.

A young woman comes into view on the screen.

“That’s Rue,” Katniss says, “The young woman I talked to earlier. I wonder why she’s going to the office at this time of day. She should be home with her family. She told me she’s the oldest of six and helps her mother out with her younger siblings.” Katniss clicks a key on her keyboard. “There. I just turned on the sound so we can hear too.”

After a few minutes pass and Rue does not come back out of the office, Katniss starts to worry. “Where is she? I think something is going on. I hope she doesn’t get in trouble for talking to me. I’m going to go after her. See if I can help, or at least find out what’s going on.”

“Be careful, Katniss. This isn’t a District mayor skimming tax dollars. This could be very dangerous.”

“I know, Prim. But I can’t just sit here and watch. I have to go check on Rue. Make sure she’s okay. If it makes you feel better. Keep watching the screen. You can see and hear me when I get to the office and hopefully come back out with Rue.”

“And if you don’t?”

“Call Uncle Haymitch. He’ll know what to do.”

Prim sits back and bites her nails as she watches her sister leave her apartment. All thoughts of the test she needs to study for long forgotten as the minutes pass. It seem like hours as she waits for Katniss to show up again on the other side of the screen.

Katniss finally appears and Prim lets out a sigh of relief.

Katniss quietly walks up to the office window and peers inside. She looks up at the camera and shakes her head, mouthing the words, “can’t see anything.” She then walks over to the screen door and turns the knob. It opens, so she walks inside. Quietly closing the door behind her.

Katniss is now completely out of view behind the closed screen door.

Prim holds her breath as she listens for any sound from her sister. She hits record, just in case.

After a few minutes, low voices start coming through, but they are too quiet to hear. Prim turns up the volume on her computer as far as it can go, and she finally can make out the voices.

“A little early for your documents, aren’t you, Miss Everdeen?” a snarky male voice asks.

“Am I?” Katniss asks. “I thought you said to come back tonight?”

“Now, now, Miss Everdeen. Don’t lie. Why are you really here? Looking for someone?”

“Do you have someone here who can answer my questions?”

“Don’t play coy, Miss Everdeen. I’m aware you spoke to Rue Stenberg after you left my office. Did you see her come in here on the camera you planted? Yes, I know about your camera, Miss Everdeen. Don’t worry. I’ll give you all the information you want. You’ll get to see where our tributes are taken, firsthand. You can be the star of your very next story. Well, if only you were to make it out alive.”

Scuffling can be heard. Katniss comes running out of the door. She quickly looks up at the camera.

“Katniss!” Prim screams as she watches her sister swiftly run away, followed shortly by two Peacekeepers and another man. The man directs the Peacekeepers to split up, each going in a different direction, then calmly turns around and walks back toward the office. He stops at the door and looks up at the camera. He points his finger at the camera, then raises his thumb, making the symbol of a gun as the corner of his lips slowly raise into an evil grin.

Minutes later Katniss burst into her apartment. “Prim, are you still there?”

“I’m here, Katniss. I saw them run after you on the screen. They could be there any minute. Get out of there.”

Katniss scrambles around her apartment, gathering her things as she tells Prim, “They got Rue. I know it. I could hear her muffled cries. They tried to grab me, but I got away. I gotta get out of here. I’ll get some help from, from, I don’t know where. I gotta go.”

“Go, Katniss. I’ll call Uncle Haymitch, let him know you’re coming. Get out of there, go see him.”

“I’m going, Prim. I’ll come back for my computer when it’s safe.” Katniss throws her backpack over her shoulder and heads for the door. “Good luck at school, Prim. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“See ya soon,” Prim says as Katniss opens the door to leave.

There, standing at the door, are two Peacekeepers and the man with the beard. “Going somewhere, Miss Everdeen?” the bearded man says before one of the Peacekeepers hits Katniss on the side of the head and she’s knocked out cold.

“Katniss!” Prim screams, but quickly covers the camera on her computer as the man with the beard looks up at Katniss’ computer. He smiles that evil grin again before turning back to leave. Prim watches in horror as her sister is dragged away.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring 2022 #spring #birthday #norbertsmom #submission #prompt

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 08:30:33

Author:@rosegardeninwinter

Prompt:Everlark + cherry blossoms [submitted by @daydreamsandcaffeine]

Rating:G

Author’s Note: I hope you don’t mind that I cribbed vanlife!lark for this prompt! Any mistakes of the Washington topography are mine.
_______________

Katniss stirs from her warm-breakfast-and-miles-of-highway induced slumber to green trees and mist. She yawns and stretches her feet down into the floorboard of the front of the van. She knows she could have gone to the actual bed in the back of their van, but then who else’s snoring body would keep Peeta company? No one’s. And she couldn’t do that to him.

“Welcome back,” Peeta laughs from the driver’s side. “How was your nap?”

“Long, apparently,” Katniss laughs. “Where are we?”

“Snoqualmie Pass,” is the reply, and a consultation of Google Maps reveals that they’re driving through the mountains into the rainy forest climate of Western Washington, where they plan to spend the spring camping, hiking, and getting new inspiration both for Peeta’s stunning watercolors (which keep them afloat financially) and Katniss’s music (which will keep them afloat financially, once she releases her album. At least she hopes so).

She leans her head against the window to admire the view. It’s gorgeous out here. Lush slopes of dark evergreens and valleys rushing with mountain rivers. It reminds her of home, but wilder, and wetter. Katniss gets up and climbs into the back for her guitar and her lyric journal. Best not to keep the muse waiting when she’s got something for you.

“What are you thinking?” her boyfriend asks as she sits back down beside him.

“Thinking about home,” she says, lightly strumming her instrument.

“Homesick kind of thinking?”

“No,” Katniss says. “Just pensive kind of thinking.”

She strums a few more chords. Her father always said she had a gift with songs, that they flowed from her without much thought. That was true, in the first moments of inspiration, but if only Dad knew how much editing she did after the fact.

She glances over at Peeta and smiles softly. Two years ago she and her boyfriend had shocked both their families by deciding they wanted to pack up shop and live on the road. They’d bought a big old van that needed some love, and made it their home on wheels, furnished with as many cozy all-natural things as Cary Everdeen could throw at them and as many high end appliances as Marta Mellark could get them to accept.

In the end, with a field of dandelions affectionately painted on the side, the van has become a little paradise with an ever changing view. Except for one thing: the man beside her. Her best friend. Her first love. She leans over and kisses his dimpled cheek. His lips quirk happily as she starts to sing, but he doesn’t say anything. By the time they’re entering Seattle (to get a taste of the city before they return to the wild, Peeta says, as he pulls them into a parking lot outside Seward Park) she’s come up with a good start. She’s singing the chorus as Peeta turns the car off.

Chasing the horizon

Find out how far the stop signs go

Fast as a jackrabbit

But like a turtle shell I’m carrying my home

“What do you think?” Katniss asks her boyfriend as they gather supplies from their fridge for a picnic.

“What do I always think of your songs?” he says, spinning her around in the small space and kissing her soundly.

“You always think they’re amazing,” Katniss sighs grumpily, chasing his lips when he moves away to cut up some mango.

“No,” he says. “I always think you’re amazing for working so hard on them. I wouldn’t lie to you if I didn’t think it was good.”

Katniss smiles, satisfied.

“Wow,” she says, as they step out into the park. Neatly kept lawns of grass lead down to a bike path, beyond which is the bluest water she’s ever seen, and beyond that, a snow covered mountain rising over the skyline on the opposite bank. “This is so pretty!”

It’s no magnificent waterfall or vista, but it’s a perfect place to have lunch, and a grove of cotton-candy pink cherry trees gives it the perfect touch of romance. The air is cool and fresh, and though the pass was dreary, there’s a surprising amount of sunlight here, so they spread the picnic blanket on dry ground among the fluttering blossoms.

“I think they have a festival here,” Peeta comments as Katniss pops the lid of her sparkling water. “We might’ve just missed it.”

“That’s alright,” she says, leaning back against his chest and sipping her drink. “I like the quiet.”

Peeta tosses a grape in his mouth and then, at her impression of a baby bird, drops one in hers. The light breeze that ripples the water to their right gives them a show when it causes cherry blossom petals to flutter down on them like soft pink snowfall.

“You should sketch this,” Katniss says, gathering a handful of petals and tossing it over their heads. Peeta does a teasing trumpet fanfare of “Here Comes the Bride,” and Katniss takes his hand, kissing his fingers lazily.

“Let’s have these at our wedding. Lots of cherry blossoms.”

It’s a sign of how comfortable they are together that she doesn’t even feel his heart speed as he says. “Oh yeah? You want to get married in the spring?”

“Maybe. Depends on when you propose. I don’t want a long engagement. I’d elope if your Mom would ever forgive us for not letting her design our wedding.”

Peeta shifts slightly behind her. “How about April?”

“For the proposal? And then we get married spring of the next year? That would work.”

“How about today?”

Katniss’s heart, for all its comfort, for all that being with Peeta is like carrying her home with her, like the turtle in her new song, skips a beat. “What?”

“I was going to do this once we got to Mount Rainier but … how about today?” Peeta repeats, and laughs, as he reaches around and sets a diamond ring in her hand.

Katniss can’t speak. She can barely breathe. She just nods numbly and puts the ring on her finger, then holds her own hand to her now racing heart, and turns to face him.

“Well now we have to have cherry blossoms at our wedding,” he says. “It would be too perfect.” She tackles him among the petals, and a passing cyclist gives a congratulatory shout, as Katniss seals their impromptu engagement with a kiss.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring #spring 2022 #rosegardeninwinter #submission #prompt

Mon, 18 Apr 2022 13:32:14

Backdraft, by @endlessnightlock

Streaming Love, by @jhsgf82

The Dancer, by @alwayseverlark

Single but Peared, by @hutchhitched

Beautiful Disaster, by @always-andshewrites

Just Friends, by @taylerwrites

The Dare, by @always-andshewrites

In Watercolor Blue, by @rosegardeninwinter

#valentines day #valentines day 2022 #everlark #everlark fanfiction #masterlist

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 08:30:29

Author:@jhsgf82

Prompt: I hope some taboo romance would be okay… Katniss and her friends always throw the worst pranks on april fool’s day, they’re literal legends when it comes to it and their creativity makes sure that every target falls for their pranks/rumours. This time is no different but they decide to prank the uptight pastor of their local church, Peeta. What if Peeta decides its up to him to stop the gang? Will prankster gang leader Katniss agree or sweep the stuck-up, cute pastor off his feet? M or E, older Peeta, HEA. [submitted by @sparklingdust4612]

Rating:T (for now)

Summary: Troublemaker Katniss Everdeen and her group of friends are legendary pranksters in their sleepy Appalachian town, until one day they take their pranking too far, incurring the ire of the young associate pastor of their local church, Peeta Mellark. After being caught by Pastor Mellark, Katniss is sent in to talk to him and to try and convince him not to press charges against them. Will she have the effect on him everyone seems to think she does? Or will he end up having an effect on her‒and possibly, changing her life? Bad girl!Katniss x Pastor!Peeta, childhood acquaintances, mutual pining

Author’s Note: Part 1 of 2. In this fic, Peeta is meant to be a Christian pastor (I kept the denomination vague, but I was thinking either Baptist or Protestant or something fictional but with some similarities to those). Forgive any inaccuracies here; I don’t know much about becoming a member of the clergy, and I also took some liberties for the purposes of this fic. No disrespect meant to Christianity or any other religion here; this is just for fun. Happy April Fools’ Day! I hope you enjoy this fic, @sparklingdust4612, and everyone else! Word Count: 2,744
__________________

Katniss Everdeen had a problem‒its manifestation was in the form of one Peeta Mellark. Correction, Pastor Peeta Mellark.

Pastor Mellark was medium height with a stocky build, ashy blond hair that fell in waves across his forehead, and bright blue eyes, the bluest Katniss had ever seen. He only had two years on Katniss’s nineteen, though he was already far ahead of her in terms of success, at least, as much success as one could have in their small town. But then again, Peeta was from the Merchant district, and Katniss was from the Seam, the poorest area, on the edge of town.

Despite their difference in status, Katniss and Peeta had gone to school together (well, there was only one); they’d even ended up in the same year from high school on because Peeta had missed two years of schooling‒one in 9th grade when his father became ill and he had to help out at the family bakery and also back in second grade for some mysterious reason which was never explained.

Katniss recalled Peeta used to wrestle in high school. He was good, second to only his brother, and she’d found herself stopping to catch his matches here and there. When she could. She’d stand way in the back, out of sight, and watch, silently cheering him on.

Peeta used to work at his family’s bakery. She remembered he was able to lift 100-pound sacks of flour straight up over his head, and he’d lug them around the bakery from day to day. She knew he had a small burn scar across the back of his right knuckle from the ovens. She also knew about his artistic flair and how he’d decorated the cakes down at the bakery. However, somewhere down the line, he’d decided to pursue a religious vocation. He’d managed to graduate early and was already going into his second year of seminary school.

In the meantime, he was the Associate Pastor (in training) and Chaplain for the town. He preached at the church most Sundays now, and he got involved in a number of town activities, particularly charity and fundraising ones, such as a food for the needy program, bake sales (he always baked bread and the best cheese buns Katniss had ever eaten), and she recalled Pastor Mellark coming up with the idea for the Harvest Festival, during one of which he’d auctioned off himself and a few other young men for dances. Peeta Mellark had quite a few female admirers, Katniss noted. Their eyes had met that night, Katniss recalled (as foolish as that sounded), and there was a moment when it looked like he was heading straight for her, but she’d veered off and run into the woods.

Another thing Katniss knew about Peeta Mellark was that he was kind. She knew he visited the sick, the wounded, and the dying (she’d even seen him in her home on a few occasions when her mother had been tending to some people) to provide them comfort and guidance, whatever they needed. He’d really done so much for this town. And for her…

But that was another story…

Katniss didn’t go to church anymore, hadn’t for a long time, but on the Sundays when Pastor Mellark preached, she would watch and listen through the back window from a high tree. She’d seen him today, outside of church, dressed in casual clothing. It’d been a while since Katniss had seen Peeta dressed casually. He always looked so proper and pristine. Sometimes he wore a clerical collar, crisp black shirt, and neatly pressed black pants with a belt, but usually, it was a suit and tie. He often wore a gray suit with a blue tie, which brought out his eyes, or an orange and white striped shirt. And when he preached he typically slicked his hair back, but today, he wore his hair in messy bangs that swept across his forehead, like he used to back in school. She remembered they’d get a bit damp when he sweated during his wrestling matches. She preferred his hair this way.

Preferred. Huh. As if she’d really given it some thought.

Katniss supposed she knew a lot about Pastor Peeta Mellark, despite not attending church. Apparently, she hadn’t been as oblivious to him as she’d imagined, or wanted to think she was. The flour. The scar. The wrestling. She’d kept track of the boy with the bread, her town’s new and upcoming pastor.

—–

When you lose a loving parent at a young age (and suddenly become responsible for your entire family), it changes you. Sometimes, it changes you for the better. And sometimes, for the worse. Some people step up, do what they need to do; others act out. For a while, Katniss did the upstanding thing and provided for her sister’s and mother’s needs, but she no longer felt needed or necessary.

Katniss had no real aim in life now that her sister was old enough to care for herself and their family was much better off than they once were, thanks to her sister and mother’s new business and some regular food donations from the local church. Katniss never really felt comfortable about accepting those, especially when she could go hunting, but her pride needed to take a backseat to feeding her family when food was scarce.

Thus, Katniss spent a lot of time with a group of friends, mainly in the woods. Among Katniss’s friend group, there was Gale, her best friend and hunting partner. Their friendship had begun over mutual loss and understanding. Both their fathers had been killed in the same coal mining accident when Katniss was 11 and Gale was 13. They’d met when she was 12 and he was 14, in the woods, both hunting to help their families survive. And they’d decided to help one another by sharing their individual strengths (Gale was a whiz at snares, and Katniss was handy with a bow). Gale’s mother had had no job then and simply couldn’t support her four children, and Katniss’s mother, though she had a job as the town healer had gone into a deep depression after her husband died and stopped caring for Katniss and Prim, or even responding. They’d had to force-feed her, and it took years before she even resembled the woman she once was.

Gale was a good friend, and things with him were simple. Or, at least, they were for the longest time. He had tried to kiss her once; she supposed he’d misread their friendship. Either that, or he’d been jealous of the local peacekeeper, Darius, hitting on her and had wanted to try and stake some claim he never had.

Then Johanna Mason came along. She’d moved to their town a few years back from another district. Jo and Gale were practically an item now (they might as well be for as often as they made out in the woods and at the slag heap), although Gale seemed to also have his eye on the mayor’s daughter, Madge Undersee. Even though he ragged on her for being a stuck-up, prissy little princess, he definitely looked at her the way a guy looks at a girl, or so it seemed to Katniss, though she was no expert on the subject. But since that was never going to happen, Gale seemed to have set his sights…lower, or rather, on someone more his speed, someone he could actually get. And that’s where Johanna came in.

Katniss’s group of friends (there were five of them) called themselves the Mockingjays, after the elusive, fabled (but nonetheless, real) bird of the woods of their district. It was said it could imitate any song or sound. Although the members of Katniss’s group weren’t singers‒well, she was, or rather, used to be‒they liked the symbolism of the bird.

As for Katniss, she’d never been one for stupid names or labels, but she went along with the rest of them just to keep the peace. She did that a lot as it were, on a lot of things, including pranking. Yes, her group was notorious for their pranks, legendary. No one really knew it was them, because they were never caught red-handed (they were too sneaky for that), but everyone knew, or at least suspected, it was them.

The townspeople were often annoyed by the pranks, at times amused, and for the most part, no one did a thing about them. Or rather, no one used to…

It seemed to be Pastor Mellark’s latest endeavor to bust them for their shenanigans, so the Mockingjays spent a great deal of time giving him the slip. He was keeping close tabs on the Hob, though he hadn’t tried to shut it down yet. He’d even found their hideout, and they’d had to move it. Katniss didn’t know how he could have found it unless he’d followed her or one of the others there. But she didn’t think that possible, for Pastor Mellark's gait was loud-it was easy to hear him coming from miles away.

Despite his heavy tread, Pastor Mellark was able to hinder several of their pranks; he was a formidable foe, and Katniss knew that Gale, in particular, was getting sick of him.

—–

Spring had arrived. On April 1st, Gale and Katniss met up before dawn without the rest of the group. Gale had said he wanted to discuss a ‘plan’ with her, an April Fool’s Day prank, before sharing it with the others. Katniss was suspicious, of course‒the last time he’d tried to get her alone like this, when they weren’t hunting, was when he’d last tried to kiss her‒but he did seem happy enough with Jo, so she wasn’t too worried about it.

“What’s the plan?” she asked him directly. “Who’s the target this time?”

The corners of Gale’s lips twitched, and he said, “Pastor Mellark.”

Oh no, not him…

—–

A little later that morning…

The Mockingjays were on the steps of the church setting up their childish yet rather elaborate prank, prior to this morning’s services.

“I don’t know about this…,“ grumbled Katniss, crossing her arms. She didn’t like the idea of pranking Pastor Mellark, even though he’d been a thorn in their side for weeks now…

“You’re not going soft on us, are you Brainless?” snipped Jo. Katniss glared. She hated when Johanna called her that.

“No, I just…” It felt wrong. Peeta‒Pastor Mellark‒might be a stuck-up, Bible-toting goody-two-shoes, but he was genuinely a kind person. Kind people had a way of working their way inside Katniss and rooting there. And of course, she could never forget about that one time…with the bread…

Katniss sighed as she watched Gale light up a cigarette. She scowled, finding it to be a disgusting habit. Not quite as disgusting as his tobacco-chewing habit, but equally bad (or worse) for his health. She recalled Gale had had a mouthful of chew when he’d tried to kiss her, which was only one of the reasons she’d reared back from him so fast she nearly snapped her neck. “Gross!” she’d exclaimed. “You actually tried to kiss me with that in your mouth, after you just spit a huge wad of that brownish-black gunk out?!” It was a good excuse at the time, but she’d eventually had to explain that she wasn’t interested in him that way. Gale had been hurt at first, but he’d bounced back pretty quickly by taking more than one girl to the slag heap.

“You just what, Catnip?” asked Gale between drags. “You agreed to this, didn’t you?”

She had. But now she was rethinking the whole thing.

“I did,” she conceded.

“Then, go on,” Gale motioned with his head toward the gnarled old oak outside of the church. “Get to your post.”

Katniss scowled. Don’t boss me around, she told him with her glare.

Gale answered by casually throwing a rock through one of the church’s stained glass windows.

“Did you have to go and break the window, asshole?” growled Katniss. She didn’t like where this was going. All their pranks before had been relatively harmless, but now they were venturing into vandalism territory. And not to mention, she really liked that window. She thought it was intricate and beautiful. She recalled Pastor Mellark really liked it, too. He was artsy and had once mentioned from the pulpit how he had an eye for beauty. Strange that he’d caught her eye in that moment.

Gale one-arm shrugged, and Katniss glared harder at him.

After a quick inspection of the damage to the window, Katniss sighed defeatedly. She was about ready to pull the plug on the whole operation, what with Gale being so demanding and then breaking her favorite window, but it was too late now, so she meandered over to her lookout post. She purposely took her time so as not to seem like she was complying with Gale’s ‘orders.’ She took to climbing the tree, and once she was settled in high enough to see the roof of the church and the entire town from all directions, she gave the low whistle of the Mockingjays.

Just then, Katniss caught sight of Pastor Mellark through the broken window. Crap. What’s he doing here so early?! He was limping a little, which happened sometimes, probably from being on his feet for too long. He had a bad knee, after all, an old wrestling injury, which caused him to favor his other leg, and he tread heavily on it.

All of a sudden, Katniss was flashing from an image of Peeta in high school to a near-future one. She was seeing him drenched and covered in flour from head to toe, thanks to their prank. His hair and nice clothing were wrecked, but his face was the worst, his forehead crinkled up, a look of pure betrayal in those gentle blue eyes. Because he knew it was her…

So, this was how it was going to be? Rather than thanking him for the bread, for saving her and her family’s lives all those years ago, she was going to deceive him?

Stunned by his appearance and shaken by her guilt-ridden thoughts, it took Katniss a couple of extra seconds to recall the situation they were in and issue the warning whistle. When she did, he turned in her direction and looked out.

Shit.

Pastor Mellark made his way over to the window, surveyed the damage at close range, and then headed out the back door.

Double shit.

Katniss was up maybe 15 to 20 feet in the air, but Pastor Mellark seemed to know exactly where the whistle had come from, so he’d surely look up. She needed to get out of this tree fast. She looked down to see Gale and Johanna staring up at her, mouths agape, questioning. She waved them off. The other two were already hightailing it toward the woods.

—–
While Gale and Jo took off, Katniss shimmied down the oak, only to miss her footing when she heard her name called loudly. She swore as she lost her grip and tumbled unceremoniously out of the tree. Were she her sister’s cat, Buttercup, she might have landed gracefully on her feet. However, she was not, and instead, she hit the ground at a bad angle, causing her ankle to twist awkwardly and painfully. She winced in pain as she lie on her side, clutching her injured foot. She didn’t think it was broken, but she also wasn’t certain she could walk on it. Her face contorted as she tested with a bit of pressure, preparing to attempt to stand.

There was no use in trying, however, for she’d already been spotted by Pastor Mellark, and he was swiftly making his way toward her. He was no longer limping, but rather, he was running toward her. Katniss’s head swam in pain, not the worst she’d ever experienced, but definitely considerable. She looked up into the concerned blue eyes of Pastor Mellark.

“Katniss, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I, uh…think so…” She winced again, and his forehead wrinkled.

“I’ll get you home,” he said.

“No, it’s okay‒” But before she could protest further, he was lifting her into his strong arms and carrying her bridal style.

She’d been caught, and Katniss knew she was in big trouble; however, she couldn’t help but lean in slightly and inhale the sweet scent combination of cinnamon and dill emanating from Pastor Mellark’s high-collared shirt and neck.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring #spring 2022 #jhsgf82 #submission #prompt

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 08:30:33

Author:@endlessnightlock

Prompt: Hello! My birthday is coming up on March 27 and would love a fic! Anything Everlark!! ❤ [submitted by @bethpeaches123]

Rating:T for cheeky sexual innuendo

Author’s Note: Hope you enjoy this meet-cute @bethpeaches123! Thank you to @rosegardeninwinter for pre-reading this for me. Word count: 1100 words
_______________

Katniss blows a stray strand of hair out of her eyes in irritation. She hates going out to shop in the evening. It always turns out that you can never find what you need because things have already been picked over. After wading through a stream of people buying random stuff like groceries and toilet paper, then past enough newborn onesies to make even the most decidedly silent biological clock think about roaring to life, Katniss finds herself where she needed to be—at the very back of the children’s department of Wal-World, facing the humongous shelving units used to display the store’s diapers. But there’s a problem.

“Assholes,” Katniss murmurs under her breath, directing the swear at whichever corporate employees were responsible for the floor design of the store. The spot designated for the brand and size of diapers she needs is empty, save one package on the top shelf, way out of her reach.

The solitary twenty-four count bag of diapers with the cute baby on the corner taunts her, knowing she can’t reach it eight feet off the floor. It’s an impossibility for someone five foot nothing to reach. The needs of folks on the shorter side were not kept in mind when they put this display together.

Katniss frowns up at the top shelf. She really can’t leave without those diapers. If she weren’t wearing a dress, she would just kick off her shoes and climb the shelves, she decides. Even if it leaves her ass on display for the local shoppers, she still may have to.

Katniss is still debating the merits of just going for it when a sensation passes through her body, alerting her she’s no longer alone in the diaper aisle. Someone has approached from behind, and she picks up the pleasant whiff of spicy aftershave coming off of them. It’s a man which, whatever, but the important thing is she can sense using her peripheral vision that he’s tall enough to reach the very top of Diaper Denali.

Katniss wouldn’t usually talk to random strangers in the store, but she’s in a desperate situation. Telling herself to drop the frown she’s been wearing most of the day so the guy isn’t put off before she can get his help, she turns enough to take a discrete peek at the newcomer.

He’s blond, broad-shouldered, muscular, and pretty attractive. Nothing about his appearance screams weirdo to her. He smiles at her, and the way his eyelids crinkle around a pair of light blue eyes makes him seem friendly.

Now that she has his attention, Katniss gestures to the top shelf of the diaper display. It surprises her how natural it is to ask him for help, although a sudden flutter of nervous butterflies takes off in her gut.

“I’m sorry to be a pain in the ass, but could you give me a hand? I’m so short.” The guy chuckles, and god, he is so cute, she realizes. “Would you mind grabbing that package of Hugz size four off the top shelf for me?”

“Yeah, of course,” he says, stepping closer to her. Katniss freezes at the proximity.

She can’t help but notice the nicely muscled arm reaching over her for the package of diapers. Once he’s handed them over to her and she’s tucked them securely beneath her arm, he steps out of her space. Not too quickly, though. That’s interesting.

“They don’t make these shelves for petite women, do they?” he says, and his smile is a little crooked.

“Not many things are made for petite women,” Katniss says. She likes the timbre of his warm, friendly voice. “I appreciate the help.”

He rubs the back of his neck before dropping his arm to his side and shrugging. “Well, we can’t have babies crawling all over the place with dirty butts, can we?” Katniss rolls her eyes at him but can’t stop herself from smiling at the dumb joke.

“I like coming to the rescue of petite women anyway. Good things come in small packages.”

He winces as soon as the phrase small packages leaves his mouth. “Well, ah, I mean, not everything in small packages is good. Some are disappointing. Umm, not that I know from first-hand experience or anything.”

Katniss wants to laugh at the growing look of horror on his face. The guy is fair-complected, and his cheeks are downright red. If he weren’t so obviously flustered by the things he’s saying, she wouldn’t be cool with the casual dick references. But seriously, he seems like a giant teddy bear and just as attracted to her as she is to him.

“Sorry,” he grimaces, “that line sounded better inside my head. I meant to say babies and uh, you know, you, are both small and cute. Not the size of certain body parts.” His blue eyes widen with each word that makes its way out of his mouth. “Oh god, why can’t I just shut up already?”

Now she’s done for. She can’t help laughing because his self-confident goofiness completely enchants her.

He shakes his head. “Sorry, I’m usually better at not sounding like a moron. I’ll just, ah, get my things and go,” he mumbles, turning away from her and rubbing the back of his neck. “You’re probably married, anyway, and even if I’m making terrible attempts at flirting with you, I’m not that asshole.”

“I’m not married,” Katniss admits.

He turns to her again, practically beaming at her. “You’re not?”

“No. Are you?”

“Hu-uh. I don’t even have kids. My roommate asked me to pick up some baby wipes while I was out. He uses them to get stuff off his clothes at work. Why I’m telling you all this, I don’t know. It’s just that when I’m nervous I talk too much.”

“I’m picking up diapers for my niece,” she hastily explains. “Katniss Everdeen,” she tells him, extending her hand.

And you are too cute to be real, she mentally adds.

“Peeta Mellark,” he says softly, fingers pressing into hers, lingering a little before relaxing his hand. When her hand drops to her side again, it’s tingling.

“So, Katniss—would it be too forward to ask for your number?” Peeta requests in that same quiet, hopeful voice. “I’d love to talk to you some more.”

She shakes her head and looks away to pull her phone out of her purse. Her face is hot. She’s thankful not to be blushing the way Peeta is. “No, it isn’t. I was kind of hoping that’s where this was going. If not, this was turning into a really bizarre conversation.”

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #spring #spring 2022 #birthday #endlessnightlock #submission #prompt

@myreposttext,@kalonae,@itskeenabeana

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 08:30:30

THG Discovery: Discover Friday

Welcome to week 56 of THG Discovery!

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Writer: @saturnblushes-and in the night you’ll hear me calling(M);The Baby Games (M); The Angel(K)

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Writer:@sothereff-A Softer Place to Land (T, Everlark, Primrose/Peeta); First Love (T, Everlark); An Eye for Beauty (T, Everlark)

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Fri, 13 May 2022 19:09:28

THG Discovery: Discover Friday

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Writer: (fanfiction.net) Schrodingers-Cat-Paradox-Let Go (K+)
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Fri, 06 May 2022 17:18:52

THG Discovery: Discover Friday

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Everlark

Writer: lou98 (fanfiction.net)-Under a Lover’s Sky (M);Out of Reach(T);She’s Like the Wind (M)

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Writer: MarkedSlicesofTree (AO3)-Floor Thirty-Two (NR, Everlark, Delly Cartwright); Delly’s Dare (E, Everlark, Odesta, Johanna/Madge)

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Fri, 22 Apr 2022 17:41:47

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Everlark

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Mon, 11 Apr 2022 17:03:29

THG Discovery: Discover Wednesday

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Writer: TheHungerGamesIreland-It All Started With a Bet(M);Not Letting Her Go(M);Those Blue Eyes(M)

THG

Writer: deathmallow-Cause We Belong to the Hurricane (M, Haymitch/Johanna (Hayhanna); Better Games to Play (T, Hayhanna, Odesta, Cinna/Effie, Blight/OFC, Cinna/Portia, Effie/Plutarch); A Winter’s Tale (T, Hayhanna, Everlark, Odesta)

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Wed, 23 Mar 2022 19:30:45

THG Discovery: Discover Wednesday

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Writer:@pronetoobsess-Under the Setting Sun(T); The Morning After (T)

Writer: evrndeen-Everything I Didn’t Say (T)

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Wed, 16 Mar 2022 15:24:30

THG Discovery: Discover Wednesday

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Everlark

Writer: Biopolarism (fanfiction.net)-Twenty Years(M);In All These Changes (T);Secret Games (M)
Writer: Mikayla.Hutcherson (fanfiction.net)-Love Bytes(M);The Bet(M);Eternal Bliss (M)

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@purpleberries;@cutiepieemoinside;@da-roach-cans-world

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 10:02:54

THG Discovery: Discover Friday

Welcome to week 49 of THG Discovery!

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Everlark

Writer:@inmyfavor-Runaway Bride(T);She still breathes (M);Roommates(M)

THG

Writer:@drivebyanon-Snowstorm for a Broken Heart (E, Everlark); The Other Side of the Glass (E, Everlark, Cato/Katniss); The Pearl Ring (G, Everlark, Katniss and Peeta’s Daughter/OC)

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Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:05:59

THG Discovery: Discover Wednesday

Welcome to week 48 of THG Discovery!

THG

Writer: ohmypeeta-Redirection (T, Everlark, Rye, Prim); Home Alone Tonight (T, Everlark, Cato/Katniss, Delly/Peeta); Unexpected (T, Everlark, Everthorne, Gadge)

Hayffie

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Wed, 02 Feb 2022 16:03:26

THG Discovery: Discover Friday

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Writer: @arabeth-thea-Darkness to Light (M, Everlark); Radioactive(G, Everlark); Kingdom Come (T, Gen, Coin, other THG characters)
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Fri, 28 Jan 2022 16:33:01

THG Discovery: Discover Wednesday

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Everlark

Writer: @mellarkfamilybakery-Delirium(T),The Girl in the Rain(T)

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Writer: @fangirlflail-The Hunger Games Peeta’s POV (K+, Everlark), Piece of Cake (K, Everlark), Caught in the Training Center (M, Katniss/Finnick)

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Wed, 26 Jan 2022 18:24:04

THG Discovery: Discover Friday

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Writer: sweetlovegone-A Quiet Day (G);Out of the Ashes (T);Here(T)
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Fri, 14 Jan 2022 16:59:17

THG Discovery: Discover Friday

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Writer:@andthisisthewonder-Something Better (G, Katniss & Prim, Everlark); Heathens (M, Everlark, Everthorne); No Masters or Kings (T, Everlark, Cato/Katniss)
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Fri, 07 Jan 2022 19:44:16

THG Discovery: Discover Wednesday

Welcome to week 44 of THG Discovery!

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Everlark

Writer:@interruptedcadences-blog-Fragility and Mockingjay Wings(M);Sister Winter (M)

THG

Writer: nerdhourariel-The 100th Games (T, Everlark, Odesta, Annie & Finnick’s son/Katniss and Peeta’s daughter); The Mockingjay’s Fire (T, Everlark, Odesta, Annie & Finnick’s son/Katniss and Peeta’s daughter); Can You Hear Me? (T, Everlark)

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