Fifth Painting: Action/Voice

[victorbychance]

[Action locked to Katniss:]

[Katie must have been interrupted, even if Peeta wasn't.

The first thing he notices is the headache. It pierces from his eyes to the back of his head, and he winces. After a second, he stirs and groans.]

[Voice, a while later:]

Hi. Sorry I've been out for a while. Did someone keep the bakery open?

Comments

[action]

[victorbychance]

In a few minutes. [He leans back against the headboard and reaches for the water.]

[action]

[stillplaying]

[She won't push it. Instead, she places the plate on the nightstand and takes a seat on the bed beside him. Just close enough so her back abuts his legs. She needs this closeness, being able to touch and to hold on to him.

He's awake. He's really awake.]

I can also make tea. Anything you think you might need, Peeta.

[action]

[victorbychance]

[Slow, slow sips. After a few minutes, a little smile.] I could use a kiss.

[action]

[stillplaying]

[That brings a real smile to her face. She remembers their first kiss. Remembers almost hearing Haymitch's voice in the back of her mind: "You call that a kiss?" That kiss had been the desperate attempt of a girl to beat the odds and get both her and the boy she had arrived in the Capitol with home. Alive. It hadn't meant much then, not to her. The kiss was a ploy to snare the audience's attention.

This kiss isn't.

Her chuckles are muffled as she presses her lips happily and easily against his. Does he know how much she loves him? She hopes so. And does her best to express so in a kiss.]

[action]

[victorbychance]

[It is better than water. He keeps it chaste for now, especially since neither of them really has the energy for anything more vigorous.]

[action]

[stillplaying]

[She smiles against his lips before pulling back enough to rest her forehead against him. It doesn't matter how chaste the kiss had been. He had returned it. He was awake.]

I love you.