[ rl with Nero ]

[tributed]

[These past couple of months had been a living hell for Katniss. Restrictions on District Twelve were higher than ever, and the announcement of the Third Quarter Quell sealed her death. Going back into the arena meant death for her so Peeta could live. Peeta had to go home. that was the arrangement she'd reached with Haymitch. It's what they both owed Peeta.

But Katniss just wanted to forget. About training with Peeta and Haymitch and struggling to help Gale and his family survive. She just wanted company as she hid out in the forest where she'd told Nero to meet her when she left the voice message for him to come to District Twelve to see her.]

Comments

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

[ A barely audible sound escaped him as he felt her lips. The kiss was soft and what could-be sweet (he wasn't sure, not one himself to kiss all the town's girls; he wouldn't admitted he wasn't "skilled". Not that he cared much.

Still, he was able to react quickly enough to kiss her back just enough, and when she moved away, he was easily able to bring her back to him, for another kiss that lasted just longer than before. ]

[tributed]

[ She almost expected him to reject her. For all these awkward talkings to be leading up to something different for him than her, something she'd have misinterpreted that would have ruined everything between them.

Then he was pulling her back. Bringing her close for another kiss, this one much more than the other one. This one real. This one full of their mutual feelings for each other that left Katniss breathless as she kissed him back, finally leaning away to try to catch her racing heart, but beyond any capacity to speak yet. ]

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

[ When the kissed stopped, he leaned back, eyes settling on Katniss before looking off a bit, something of an awkward quiet lingering in the air, all the while not caring. That's what was missing, and it was weird to think about admitting that.

The feelings were coming too fast, or ... weren't they? It was hard to tell. For someone that never gave a rats ass about another person so much. Not really.

Where could he begin?]

[tributed]

[ Finally Katniss settled back against the tree, just... trying to make sense of what had happened. Grateful Nero didn't live here, but wondering what impact this would have on her life. Then she remembered it didn't matter. It was too late for them to do anything else to her anyway.

She closed her eyes for a second now. Trying to sort through the confusing thoughts in her head. ]


I think I care about you.

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

... I was getting that feeling myself.

If you're going to die... [ It was a quickened thought, and not one he anywhere near liked, but he wondered. ] I want to do what I can. If I can. [ Something he was good at, was working for what he wanted. Nothing else around him had to matter. ]

I know I care about you. It's ripping my brain apart, and annoying as hell that I couldn't put sense to it. I can't explain it, I don't wanna have to break it apart to 'get'.

[tributed]

[ She runs her hands through her hair now, trying to get her mind to focus on the words. ]

My life is wrapped up in these horrible games. They're destroying everything else I care about and I just... I sit here. And I watch it every day. And I know that nothing's going to change. People are going to die here every day and none of that's going to stop.

But then there's you. This piece of my life that was untouched by this place and now... you're just as wrapped up in it because I am. And I don't want that to happen. That's why I've been refusing to admit these feelings.

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

Hey, I don't plan to get wrapped up in anything I don't have to. If someone puts a limit or price on my head-- or yours, they're my target, too. [ He meant it. One thing he was good at, was taking care of shit like them. Any of them , he was fine with taking out. There was no limit for him. Nothing to stop him, nothing to draw boundaries. ] I want someone to mess with me. If thats how I can clean this up for you, hell- for me too if I need to be careful now. I hope they see. And I hope they hear the threat.

[tributed]

That's what I mean by wrapped up. This shouldn't be your problem or your concern. I don't want you to have to take anyone out. [ Not that she didn't have a small list of her own... ] I don't want you to have to worry about me. Or for you to have to feel anything when I die.

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

It's a little late for that.. No sense in worrying now. [ He stared again, wanting to pull her for another kiss. The topic of death was too heavy. Words seemed too violent. It always went back to 'kick his ass' ]

[tributed]

[ Not that she'd object to another kiss. But Katniss was always so careful with these things. She'd only kissed Peeta to survive, she didn't get the emotions behind it. With Gale he'd kissed her and she'd given in. With Nero it was... so much harder. ]

Then don't worry about me.

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

Okay. [ It was easy to say, and that's all anyone usually asks. It just hear the words. He couldn't help what he felt, and he couldn't help moving closer, still careful to keep his right side shifted away. ]

My mouth is sealed. So, don't worry about me worrying. I don't worry, anyway, I act.

[tributed]

[ And since you're that close, Nero, she has to look up at you to meet your gaze now. ]

Don't act stupid then. That'll make me worry.

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

Hah, don't worry Katniss... [ No one ever said he had good humor, but the look on his face was what could have been a mix of teasing and trying to hide a more serious emotion both. ] I'll wait until your dead.

[tributed]

As long as Prim's safe, I don't care what you do after I die. [ That's okay. She was trying to remain calm as well. She didn't let anyone see how messed up she was over going into the games. Not since the first night after she lost it. ]

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

[ Not too sure why, Nero leaned in again to kiss her. If she was going to die, if she HAD to die, there were going to be no consequences now. ]

[tributed]

[ And this time she didn't pull away. She leaned into the kiss because well... she wanted someone for once. And she wasn't going to let him slip away so easily. ]

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

[ Kissing her? Just felt nice. It felt strangely.. right. Annoyingly so. He hadn't known her as long as someone he SHOULD be this attracted to. The fact that he was going to lose her, made him feel all the most desperate.

He wondered if it would be okay to nudge her to the ground. ]

Don't go. [ His voice was unfamiliar to himself, but they were words he had wanted to say, regardless. ]

[tributed]

[ Not that Katniss would protest to anything right now. Not with him kissing her like that and taking her senses and filling them with thoughts of him that turned to want and just a desperate need for more. ]

Not yet. [ She promised him under her breath. Eventually... she couldn't deny she would have to go eventually. But not yet. Right now only the two of them existed, as it should be. ]

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

[ All he could do was make a noise of confirmation, a light one, just to let her know he got it. It hardly mattered as he nudged her back and moved over her just enough - not to pin her, but just to keep her near. He broke the kiss and looked her over, pale eyes watching her with a want he didn't want to admit he was placing. ]

[tributed]

[ Katniss didn't offer any resistance as he nudged her back on the earth, looking up at him once he broke the kiss with wild and confused eyes. But she liked it. She liked this breathless feeling that left her strangely wanting. Especially if it was a want for Nero. ]

I don't think I've ever felt like this before...

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

Yeah? Well, that makes two of us. [ His words didn't come out as fluid as he would have liked, they sounded choppy and embarrassing through short breathes. He kissed her again, more harder than before- that same warmth from earlier growing, though out of a more calm sort of erratic feeling.

It was that power, and that only that stopped him short. ]

But I'm sure-- I'm not sure if I'd end up hurting you.

[tributed]

[ God Nero, stop distracting her with your kisses! Every time he kisses her she reaches up for more of it and only stopping when he stops her or she has to surface for air, the former being the cause this time.

She can't help but give a short laugh at his words. ]

I'm dying on you... and you're worried you'll hurt me?

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

Hah... it doesn't mean I'm going to care less... [ He wants to tell her, but the nagging want is stronger. Choosing to ignore it until it gets too much- he's just going to keep kissing her, taking what he can for now, and almost too anxious to grab for more. ]

There might be something I haven't told you- but knowing you, you won't care. [ Or he hoped at least. It wasn't something he liked to really show off, and every time it surfaced, it became a big deal. A monster. ]

[tributed]

[ Ngh. You can stop talking and just keep kissing her Nero. But she recognizes this as him opening up to her, something of a rarity for the both of them. So she manages to keep herself in check long enough to listen to his words. ]

Probably not. [ She responds, watching him closely. ] You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. Or you can if you do want to.

[rose-calamity.livejournal.com]

[ You'll die soon, and then what? It won't matter one way or another. He breathed deep, for the first time in what seemed like years, and instead of talking he kissed her again, and again. Small but yet, powerful sorts of kisses. Short and something of meaning.

He didn't move away when he stopped, though it seemed like he didn't know if he wanted to move closer or back just a little. He thought a minute before speaking. ]

I don't understand it myself, or where it came from. But there's- I guess I'm not all so much human. There's no pride behind it, at all - that's for sure.