Peeta's Solution

Chapter 1

The Capital Awaits

Author's Note: I told you I wouldn't keep you waiting! We continue on with our story from Peeta's point of view from Peeta's Problem. I strongly encourage that you read that story first if you haven't. I am burying myself in my writing because I don't want to face the real world for a while =) Enjoy!

The train whisks us to the capital far too fast. I'm pouring over the names of selected tributes from each district and combing through the extensive notes I'd made on each of them before, back when I couldn't do much more than get out of bed. I know I should try sleeping but I feel that I need to just keep going, push myself and see this thing through.

I'm roused from my thoughts as a warm hand slinks around my shoulders and begins rubbing my neck. I sigh in contentment before I can stop myself. "Come to bed Peeta, its late." She whispers.

"I really need to finish going through these notes." I try lamely. She pouts and sticks out her lip.

"Please. I can't sleep without you." She pleads. She grabs my hand and I follow her without much of a struggle.

She leads me down the corridor to her room and pushes me down on the bed. She efficiently sheds my shoes and my prosthetic. My shirt and pants are the next to quickly follow to the pile on the floor, she pushes me back against the pillows before she flicks off the light and glides in next to me. Her skin is warm and soft against mine and I can suddenly feel how very tired I am. She curls around my arm, her back to my chest and I wrap my arms around her protectively as I've done so many times before. I listen to the sounds of her breathing even out and I follow her into the lands of slumber.

I'm awoken by the sound of Haymitch clearing his voice. "Ehm.."

I open one eye and just give him a smirk; I don't bother bolting from the bed or bother adjusting the blankets. "Morning Haymitch."

The sound of my voice startles Katniss whose head pops up and she begins to look around at the source of her wake up call. When she spots Haymitch she makes a small squeak and dives back under the covers. I just laugh. "C'mon you two, we'll be in the capital in an hour or so, get a move on." He laughs as he shuts the door. "Seems I always catch you two in bed when we're on this blasted train!"

I hear Katniss groan under the blankets, I flip the blankets back and pull her back to me and nuzzle her neck with kisses, "Good morning beautiful."

She giggles and hops out of the bed to head to the showers. "Care to join me?" She asks and I leap from the bed and reattach my limb in what I'm sure is a record speed and follow her into the showers.

After a long and thorough shower we head to breakfast. I don't think either of us has quit smiling at each other. I smile to myself as I think how far Katniss and I have come since our last train ride together. I catch Effie giving us glances before she excuses herself from the table sniffling.

Haymitch, Katniss and I continue to eat in amicable silence until we feel the train slow down at the train station in the Capital. I'm startled to see how sober Haymitch is and I note that I haven't seen him with his signature flask yet this trip. We disembark and are immediately bombarded by Capital fans sobbing and yelling our names. I tighten my grip around Katniss's arms as we are whisked through the mob and into the training center.

We ride the same elevator and are shown to the same suite as last year. It's remarkable how much is the same yet everything has changed. We find Cinna and Portia waiting in our suite this year, our rooms are set up to make us over here instead of in within the bowels of the training center. They do minimal work and dress us in matching form fitting somber ensembles. I can't help but appreciate Katniss's newly acquired curves and I see she keeps eyeing me with a blush on her face.

"This year I don't want you to smile or show the crowd any attention what so ever. " Cinna tells us. "Be cold, indifferent, you are above this, you shouldn't be here. " I squeeze Katniss's hand as we head to the elevators to head to the tribute parade.

Portia smiles at me and squeezes my shoulder as we ride down to the first floor. I give her a small smile in return before the doors open and announce our arrival to the room of tributes. I immediately begin to assess each of the tributes, some are young, not much older than us, and others are old, far too old to be in this situation. Some I can't believe are even moving under their own power. Of course there are the ones I worry most about, Finnick O'Dair, Johanna Mason, and of course Brutus, Enobria… any of them are lethal in their own right. I see them all milling about all lost in their own thoughts and some are sizing us up.

I feel rather than see their eyes on us. It makes me want to wrap my arms protectively around Katniss and shield her from their view but I don't want them getting the idea that she is weak and needs my protection. We move over to our chariot and climb aboard waiting for our cue to turn on our flames.

Before long our chariot is bumbling along the parade route. Our form fitting black leotards are alight in blue flame. I hear the screams of the crowd but I don't actually look in their direction, instead I clasp Katniss's hand in my own and stare stoically straight ahead, to the podium where our greatest enemy of all awaits, Snow.

He stands perched behind his stand, high up in the air; he looks down at us like he's tending a flock of sheep. I stare at him and I don't break eye contact when his eyes meet mine. I want him to know that I will not back down, I will not be scared, and I'm fighting to the end.

I'm not sure but I think Snow ends his speech early due to the eerily quiet and unenthusiastic crowd, I think I even hear shouts of dissent and even some out right calls to stop the games. I smile to myself, that can't have been part of his master plan.

We return to our suite to rest and prepare for the next few days of training. After dinner, rather than watch the replay of the parade I tug on Katniss's arm and lead her to the roof. "C'mon, I could go for a walk." I whisper in her ear. She smirks as she catches our code. As we reach the roof I slip off my jacket and slip it around her shoulders, there is always a steady breeze blustering on the roof tops and I don't need her catching a chill. I settle against the side of the wall and peer out over the ledge; Katniss comes to me and leans back against me. She fits perfectly, leaning against my chest, I wrap my arms around her and she holds on to me. I lean forward and rest my head on her shoulder.

"How are you doing?" I ask her softly. She leans her head to the side exposing her neck to me and I place a soft trail of kisses up to ear.

She gives me a giggle and a little shudder. "Better now. " She whispers back. She turns quickly around presses me up against the wall; I am shocked and impressed by her speed and just how fast she was able to overtake me. Before I can comment she presses her lips to mine. Her lips taste of the strawberries and cream of dessert, so sweet, so perfect.

In this horrible most impossible of places we find solace in one another. I know I won't come out of this alive but at this moment, with our limbs entangled on the rooftop, my skin against hers, I feel more alive than I ever have or probably ever will.