(the boys are too refined)

[burnwithus]

Things are different these days, now that Gale's gone and the treehouse is empty. But life goes on, and in her own way, Katniss is beginning to see that as well. She revives a bit more each day, albeit gradually. Some nights, the nightmares are more brief than others. Some days, it isn't a struggle to get out of bed. Her body recovers too, bit by bit. Not enough to be noticeable, but after months and months - nearly a year now, she reflects on it from time to time.

Except that morning, she woke up to many things that were noticeable. Pushing the blankets back, Katniss realized that her burn scars were much more faded than they usually were. And she felt...different. Taller, stronger, although no less tired. One quick look in the mirror revealed something entirely different: herself, but older. The same braid, the same scrubbed face and grey eyes, but-- it was strange. It must be something done by the island. She throws clothes on haphazardly before grabbing her bow and rucksack, heading out to see if this isn't just something happening to her.

Peeta. She should check on him, shouldn't she?

Moving quickly despite her legs being longer than her remembering them being, she passes by a woman she doesn't quite recognize, and doesn't give it any thought. Katniss is antisocial. She knows very few people on the island, although...one would think she would at least recognize people's faces.

Comments

[likedtheodds]

"Because I don't have many friends and even if you're deliberately cruel, it's better than people who are trying to kill me because I've been put in a bloody arena for sport," he snaps, shaking his head. "Fine. You want to be alone, you want to be lonely and suffer, then maybe I'll do the same."

It feels strange to be in a snit like this, in this body, it really and truly does.

[exmockingjay.livejournal.com]

She doesn't know how they got like this so fast, yelling at each other within seconds. This too, feels like something that would happen with Gale, although that thought is snapped right out of her with his next words. Katniss, who had turned away from him, now finally shifted backwards head tilted and trying not to shake. "What did you just say?"

That can't be right. She must have heard wrong. Even if arena was hardly something used in normal conversation.

[likedtheodds]

Gwaine shakes his head, angry that he has to talk about this, even angrier that it has to happen like this. "You think you're the only one who lived with difficulties? Try being kicked out of kingdoms," he suggests. "Try hating the nobility that took your father away from you. Try waking up in a concrete pit and made to be a jackass' champion."

[exmockingjay.livejournal.com]

Out of all of the many encounters Katniss has had with Gwaine, he had never gotten angry. In fact, his happy-go-lucky attitude and constant teasing had aggravated her to no end. This was an entirely different side of him, and the fact that he was currently a woman didn't take away from that. She doesn't back down, though. She grits her teeth and stands her ground. "Champion?" It sounds too much like Victor. Like Tribute. "What do you mean?"

[likedtheodds]

"I got drunk in the wrong tavern, before I got here," he mumbles his explanation, giving her a look that says he doesn't want to continue talking to her for very much longer. "When I woke up, I was in a pit. Jarl, slave-trader, had me fight to the death as his champion."

[exmockingjay.livejournal.com]

She's silent for a long time after that. If he wants to leave, she's not going to stop him. The similarities are jarring and more than she wants to remember right now. Katniss' expression is oddly blank, too forced to be anything else, like she's trying hard not to show more emotion than necessary.

[likedtheodds]

Gwaine studies her and gives up about a minute into this odd staring contest. He runs his hand through his hair, picking out bits of straw form visiting the stables. "I really do need clothes," he says, demurely. "Even if you aren't going to help."

[exmockingjay.livejournal.com]

Her own clothes still fit, probably because of how baggy she kept them as her normal self. Apparently growing was not in her future, because her pants were the same length; as disappointing as that was. Apparently a childhood of malnutrition really did have lasting effects and had probably stunted her growth for life. Oh well. Katniss doesn't care much at all; avoids mirrors entirely so she can avoid looking at herself.

But Gwaine looks to be about her size. Taller, definitely, but did that really matter? Biting back a colossal sigh, her gaze softens after a moment. "Fine. If you come back to my room, I can get you some."

[likedtheodds]

Gwaine manages a hint of a smile, something that's gone as quick as it's come, and he crosses his arms over his torso. "You do look beautiful," he says quietly. "I hope you know that, as much as you're disinclined to think otherwise."

[exmockingjay.livejournal.com]

It's a ridiculous thing to say to a girl who is used to burn scars all over her skin, but it's harder to shrug off this time than usual. Maybe it's because this is the first time she's seen Gwaine serious about anything. Either way, Katniss doesn't quite believe it, but doesn't tell him that. Instead, she starts walking again, certain that he'll follow, this time. Her room isn't far, and she has a few extra sets of clothes there to save her trips to the box every now and again.

[likedtheodds]

He follows because he's got nowhere else to go and he did mean it when he said that she's as good as the closest thing he has to a good friend on these shores. "Thanks, Katniss," he says, giving her the honour of her actual name -- just this once.