Disclaimer : I do own the series….NOT. Seriously.

Percy’s POV

The next morning, we both look at the remaining berries and some of Rue’s roots.

   “ Do you want to ration it or just finish everything up?”

   “ Let’s just finish it. There’s no point in trying to ration it when’s it already this depleted,” she sighs, picking up a berry. “ Tomorrow’s a hunting day.”

   “ Agreed,” I say, chewing some roots. “ We could use a little bit of meat. And Greasy Sae’s soup sounds  a lot more appetizing now, doesn’t it?”

   “ Can you shut up?”

   “ Nope.”

She throws her water bottle at me. “ You’re not helping with all the food talk!” she hisses at me, looking half-way between livid and annoyed. 

I laugh. “ Okay, I’ll stop,” I surrender, picking up her water bottle. “ Maybe we can survive on water alone? I mean, there’s plenty of it around us.”

 She sighs, taking the water bottle from me. “ I guess.”

 We didn’t speak for a while. “ I wonder if Haymitch notice us starving.”

“ I doubt it. Maybe he’s too drunk to notice,” she scoffs, looking a bit angry. I didn’t press the subject further after that and kept quiet for five, whole minutes. Hey, she might get in her head to rip my head off for being too annoying.

“ Say, Katniss,” I say, breaking the icy silence. “ What did you use to knock me out? Was it something like a knock out gas but in liquid form?”

“ Maybe,” she replies, looking a little bit startled that I had brought it up. “ I’m not that familiar with it because my mother usually uses sleep syrup. You know, the awfully sweet thing.”

“ The one you injected into me when I was raving like a lunatic after the explosion?”

“ Yeah.”

“ I hate that one. But at least it was a peaceful sleep without any dreams. Well, except for a dream about my mother but that’s that. The knock out gas you gave me that night gave me nightmares,” I say, shuddering when I remembered back the horrible nightmare.

“ Do you want to talk about it?” When I didn’t reply, she sighs and takes my hand. “ I won’t pressure you into telling but it will make you feel better when you share it, trust me.”

I stare at her, wondering if I should. The terrible images of the blood and spinning eyeballs and all are pretty much fading. Maybe I should tell her.

“ Okay. I’m going to tell but don’t laugh, okay?” She nods. So, I started telling her, feeling embarrassed more and more as I went. She is trying to keep her face straight but I know she is going to laugh so hard the sound may be heard miles and miles away from us.

“ Well,” she says, straightening herself, her lips twitching. “ That was…um…”

“ Just laugh,” I sigh, ruffling my hair. She grins widely at first before finally bursting out laughing. On and on it went. “ Okay, I think you’ve gone too far.”

“ Sorry, Perce but I just can’t stop,” she wheezes, clutching a stitch in her chest. “ Oh, Percy, Percy, Percy,” she says, beaming. “ I just love the fact that you are still a child at heart. Who still gets silly nightmares like that.”

“ It won’t be silly if you had had that nightmare,” I mutter under my breath, glaring at her. “ Do you know how much I hate you right now?”

“ And do you know how much I love you right now?”

That caught me off guard so much I couldn’t find the perfect response that. So, instead of coming up with my usual witty comeback, I stare at her uncomprehendingly. She grins at me in this sadistically way (not the I’m-going-to-kill-you way but scary all the same) and gets into a sitting position.

“ Why did you think I was willing to sacrifice myself to get the medicine?” she asks quietly, her fingers tracing my jaw line.

I shift myself a bit. “ Well, that’s easy. I’m one of your closest friends. Practically family since I’m living in the same house as you. Well, at least, I used to before the Games. And don’t ever think about doing that stunt again.”

“ Is that all you can say?”

“ Pretty much.”

She sighs in frustration, pressing me hard against the cave wall. She didn’t say anything for awhile, merely looking into my eyes, as if searching for something. I suppose she didn’t find what she was looking for because her expression softens. A bit. Maybe from a rabid wolf to a hungry tiger? Or is it the other way around?

“ Haven’t you ever wondered,” she says, running a hand through my hair, “ that I might..um..do it for myself? Maybe you’re not the only one…who worries about…what it would be like if…”

“ If one of us dies?” She nods. “ You are so not a smooth talker,” I comment, smirking like crazy when all the while I am trying to hide the sound of my suddenly rapid heartbeat. She growls angrily. Okay, maybe the rabid wolf is back. “ But,” I add quickly, “ maybe you could be a smooth kisser? I’m not pretty sure about it before since I was half-dazed with – “

I didn’t get to finish my sentence because she suddenly leans in and kisses me. And I think she just proved it.

“ – fever. “ I stare at her. “ That was a so-so. Maybe you could actually delete all the doubt I have if – “ Again, I didn’t get to finish my sentence because she leans in again for another kiss. This time, more passionately. “ You should let me finish my sentences,” I grumble slightly.

She smirks a bit before pulling away completely and settles down next to me.

“ What? No more kisses?”

“ Nope. I think it’s time for you to sleep,” she says in a business-like tone. “ And don’t worry,” she adds,  smirking, “ they won’t come to hurt you.”

“ I’m not sure about that, though. Maybe I could sleep well if you were in my arms?” I say innocently. Oh, heck…our flirting is so flimsy that the Capitol audience must be total idiots to actual fall for it.

She snickers. “ Fine,” she says, allowing me to pull her into a hug. “ Just don’t snore or drool. And don’t try to deny it,” she adds, giving me a look. “ You drool when you sleep.”

“ Only when I’m too tired!” I protests half-heartedly, yawning a bit. “ And I think I might drool tonight,” I add, chuckling when she tries to get away from me. “ Looks like it’s going to be a wet night for you.”

“ If you do drool, you’ll get it from me,” she grumbles, finally stopping to try to escape. I didn’t reply because only now do I feel drowsy. “ Sweet dreams.”

“ I hope,” I mumble, now already half-way asleep.

And I slept and slept until finally, Katniss wakes me up.

“ Sorry,” she apologizes, looking extremely guilty. “ But I had already dozed off a few times.”

“ It’s okay,” I say, yawning and stretching at the same time. “ A nap is all I need.”

“ You slept okay?” I nod. “ No more psychotic ghosts?”

“ None.”

“ We’ll find a higher place tomorrow so we can both sleep peacefully,” she promises me. “ Tomorrow. I’m sure this snow storm will stop.”

“ That’d be great,” I say, yawning yet again. “ Now, go to sleep.” She nods and after several moments, she finally drifts off.

But tomorrow is no better. The snow storm is coming down harder and sooner or later, our cave entrance would be fully blocked by the snow. At times, I’ve even suggests that I should go and find at least some berries but Katniss wouldn’t let me. She thinks I’d only be getting frozen to death for all my troubles. I didn’t argue with her, though in my head I’m screaming things at her. Maybe she is right, I’d tell myself. And anyway, she doesn’t want to lose you nor you her, I’d chant to myself.

The day drags on turning into evening and there’s no break in the weather. Haymitch is our only hope, but nothing is forthcoming. Maybe from lack of money since as the weeks go by in the Games, prices start to soar high. It’s Katniss’ turn to watch now. She’s got this look that says I’m-thinking-so-hard-don’t-bother-me. But the silence between us is driving me nuts. Not to mention the claustrophobic feeling the snow and cave is giving me.

Finally, after several hours of not talking (oh, wow! Who would’ve thought I could last not talking that long?), I finally break the silence.  “ What are you thinking?” I ask her, fingering the creases on her forehead.

“ What makes you think I’m thinking?” she asks me back.

“ You’ve got these creases on your forehead and I don’t really like it when you have your thinking look on you.”

“ Why?”

“ Because usually it means idea and your ideas usually stink.” She pushes my hand away, half-scowling, half-laughing. “ Seriously, what are you thinking?”

“ Why did you say you have a crush on me at the interview?”

I stare at her, my mouth hanging slightly. “ Well…um…”

“ Not a smooth talker now, are you, Seaweed Brain?” she teases me, pulling my face closer to her.” So? Why did you say you have a crush on me?

“ Because I have a crush on you?” She pushes me away (AGAIN!), shaking her head. “ What? You can’t ask someone why they have a crush on you, Katniss.”

“ Of course I can ask you why you have a crush on me,” she insists. “ Come on. Tell me why,” she adds, making the hideous pleading face. “ Please!”

“ Do not make that face again,” I say, cringing. She hits me on the shoulder playfully before leaning against the cave wall, looking at me expectantly. “ Fine. It started way, way before Addy and I moved into your house, okay? Maybe around the time I start to hang out with you and Madge.”

“ Why haven’t you told me then?”

“ And get a punch in the face from you? No, thanks.” She smirks. “ Anyway, the feeling got a little bit stronger after the explosion.”

“ When you moved in with us.”

“ Yeah.”

“ And?”

“ And what?”

“ That’s all you have to say?” she asks, looking crestfallen.

I smile slightly when I look at her expression. “ I think the crush-y feelings has actually morphed into a feeling stronger than it,” I whisper to her, leaning for a kiss.

But before our lips touched (imagine my frustration! I’ve arranged my words so carefully and something just had to happen! Do you know how nervous I was?), the clunk outside made us jump. Her bow comes up, ready to fly but there was no other sound. I peer through the rock and feel excited. Well, at least it was that that had interrupted us. If it was another tribute, we’re screwed.

“ Percy, wa-“

“ Take this!” I say, shoving the basket into her hands. “ It’s freezing out here!” I gasp as I slid back into the cave. “ What are they trying to do? Freeze us to death? What did Haymitch send us?”

“ Food!” she cries out in joy, grinning giddily as she shows me the contents of the basket. “ Glorious food!”

‘Glorious food’ is quite an understatement. It was a full feast in there :  fresh rolls, goat cheese, apples and a tureen of the lamb stew on wild rice. Katniss’ favourite Capitol dish. I look at her, grinning. “ Let’s dig in, then!”

Katniss looks as if she could cram everything into her mouth at the same time. I would love to do the same thing too but we’re sensible. Sorry, we’re not sensible but we have to.

“ Better take it slow. Wouldn’t want to get sick,” I say, trying to keep my actual hungry self in check. “ We weren’t this starving then and yet I nearly barfed it all up.”

“ Yeah, you’re right,” she sighs, looking at the feast longingly. “ And I feel as if I could inhale the whole thing!”

“ The look on your face is evidence enough,” I chuckle, handing her a roll. Besides from the roll, we each had a half an apple and an egg-sized serving of the stew and rice. We eat the food slowly, savouring the flavour. And besides, eating too fast would get you bloated and I do NOT like the bloated feeling. Plus, you pass more gas when you’re bloated. 

Katniss finishes her portion first and stares longingly at the rest of the food. “ I want more.”

I grin at her after I had finished the stew. “ Trust me, I want more too. Tell you what : let’s wait for an hour and if the food stays, we’ll have another serving. What say you?”

“ Agreed,” she sighs. “ This is going to be a long hour.”

“ It won’t if we pick up where we left,” I smirk at her mischievously. She blushes a bit. “ Oh, I almost forgot,” I say, slapping my forehead. “ Addy mentioned that you have a crush on me. Is that true?”

“ What?” she nearly screams. “ Percy, you can’t just ask people why they have a crush on you – “

“ But I am,” I say, cutting across her rant. “ All you need, is just say ‘yes’ or ‘no’.”

“ No, I’m –“

“ No?” I say, pretending to  be really upset. “ You don’t have a crush on me? So, you love me?”

“ I – well..um…” Words can’t get out of her mouth, so she resolves to glare daggers at me. “ Why are you suddenly asking this?”

“ Because you brought it up?” I say in a taunting tone. “ Come on, Katniss. The answer’s simple. This might be the only chance you get to truly confess.”

“ I’m tired,” she says suddenly, her face bright red. “ I think I’ll call it a night.” She then pulls her jacket high over her head and lies on her side, her back facing me.

“ You’re not mad, are you?” I ask her, peering over her shoulder. No answer. “ Sorry but it was just a silly question, Katniss.” Still no answer. “ Come on,” I say, tapping on her shoulder. “ Hello? Is anybody home?”

“ Go away, Jackson,” came her muffled voice. Even though it was muffled, I think she’s trying to hide a smile.

“ You know, my sister has a keen sense. Sometimes I think as if she could actually read people’s mind. Something you did must’ve tipped her off about you having a crush on me.”

“ I do NOT have a crush on you,” she snarls, scrambling to her knees. “ What makes you think I have a crush on you?” she demands.

“ This,” I say, tracing a finger on her cheeks. “ You’re blushing too much. And your eyes are telling me differently.” She pushes my finger away, avoiding my gaze. “ Come on, Katniss. Just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer. We don’t know if – “

“ No.”

“ Sorry?”

“ I said ‘no’.”

“ No, as in you don’t have a crush on me?”

“ Yeah.”

“ That was easy, wasn’t it?” I say, smiling on the outside, feeling like my heart’s been ripped out of my chest, stomped on, roasted over open flames and speared all at once on the inside. She didn’t answer, merely glares at me. “ So…” This is getting awkward. “ Have you imagined how life would be with only Haymitch as our neighbor?”

“ What?” she asks, her tone a little higher than usual. “ Why would Haymitch be our neighbor?”

“ Because if we make it out of this place, we would have to live in the Victor’s Village, remember?” I say, rolling my eyes. Trying so hard to ignore the pain in my heart. Oh, wow…I really do have fallen for her. Real hard. “ What would it be like with just you, me and Haymitch? Do you suppose we would do things together like have picnics together, birthdays..”

“ That sounds nice,” she says stiffly.

We didn’t talk to each other after that.

“ I wonder how he did it,” I say quietly, breaking the suffocating silence. She glances at me questioningly. “ Haymitch. How did he won his Games.”

“ He probably outsmarted the others.”

I didn’t try to continue the conversation after that. The tension in the air getting a little bit too overwhelming. About half an hour pass. I steal a glance at Katniss, her face stoic and her posture stiff. “ Do you want to eat again?”

“ Good idea,” she says, her tone softening. Somewhat.

While she was dishing out another serving for the both of us, I hear the anthem began to play. I peer through the small cracks in the cave and squint at the sky. A moment later, an image appears in the dark sky.

“ There won’t be anything to see tonight,” her voice came. I turn to look at her and see her focusing on the food. “ Nothing’s happened or there would’ve been a cannon.”

“ Katniss,” I call her name quietly.

“ What? Should we split another roll too?” she asks, still keeping her eyes on the food.

“ Katniss.”

“ I’ll split one. But I’ll save the cheese for tomorrow.”I glare at her and finally she looks up. “ What?”

“ Thresh is dead.”

 “ He can’t be,” she says, a horrified look starts to form on her face.

“ They must’ve fired the cannon during the storm. And we missed it.”

“ Are you sure? I mean, it’s snowing heavily out there. You could have seen someone else,” she says, pushing me away from the rocks and squint into the dark sky. After a few seconds, her body stiffens before she slumps against the wall, looking devastated.

“ You all right?” I ask her, feeling a little bit panicked in case she’s gone into a shock or something.

“ It’s just…if we didn’t win…I wanted Thresh to. Because he let me go. And because of Rue,” she says, hugging herself tightly.

“ I know,” I say quietly. “ But this means we’re closer to home than ever in weeks.” I pick up her plate of food and put it in her hands. “ Eat. It won’t be as delicious as it is now when it’s cold.”

She takes a full spoonful of the stew, her face now back to its usual expressionless. “ It also means Cato will be back hunting us.”

“ And he’s got supplies again.”

“ He’ll be wounded, I bet,” she says, surprising me.

I raise an eyebrow at that. “ What makes you think that?”

“ Because Thresh would never have gone down without a fight. He’s so strong, I mean, he was,” she says, her voice shaking.

“ That’s good, then,” I say, nibbling at my half of roll. “ The more wounded Cato is, the better. Wonder how Foxface is doing now.”

“ Oh, she’s fine,” she says, her tone changes, a hint of annoyance to it. “ Probably easier to catch Cato than her.”

“Would it be too much to hope that they’d run into each other and finish each other off?” She grins at that. “ We better be extra careful with the watches. I sort of dozed a few times.”

“ Yeah. But not tonight. Let’s just get some hard-earned rest,” she suggests as she piles our plate in a corner. “ Good night,” she says, burrowing into her jacket before rolling on to her side, her back facing me again.

“ Good night,” I murmur, looking at her turned back.

  Well…

I guess I’ll be sleeping with a broken heart tonight.

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A/N: Feedbacks are welcomed! :)