[Her hands were still cuffed to the sides of the bed, dark bruises and lacerations forming where she'd pulled at them over and over again to try to get them off. They'd kept her heavily sedated, to try to stop it, and it seemed to be working for the moment.
Gale. She remembered him. Katniss' "cousin". The one that liked her, too. That had known her longer, been close to her. That had rescued her from the Capitol.
No. No, that wasn't a rescue. They'd kidnapped her. He was close with Katniss, and that was bad. He was bad. If he was related to Katniss, then he had to be a mutt, too, right? Shields up, Peeta grit her teeth.] I could have baked in the Capitol. [No, they wouldn't have let her, but that was... shiny. That memory.]
[ Okay. That was a bad idea. Good to have confirmation of that.
Sometimes Gale wondered if going to get Peeta was a bad decision on their part, but he'd crush the thought as soon as it came. They needed her, but most importantly, Katniss needed her. But not like this. ]
Why would you want to? [ he asked, not bothering to hide his disgust. ] They can get all the fancy cakes and breads they want, any time. Have you seen what they give us to eat here? [ It gets them by, but it's nothing special. A lot of it is disgusting, in fact, even compared to what he'd had in the Seam. ] The least it would do is brighten up the place.
[Why wouldn't she?] Would you still hunt if you could? [She doesn't doubt that Gale would. Not at all.] I like to bake.
[She looks darkly at her handcuffs.] Would it? 'Cause I want to brighten this place up, help all you traitors and mutts. You'll all die in the dark here. [Why did they let Gale in here? The two had never been friends. They never would be.]
I do, [ he says neutrally. ] Where else do you think the fresh meat in your meals comes from? Makes the food here a little more tolerable.
[ A bad attempt at a joke, maybe. He's never been the talker that Peeta is. ]
We won't die here, [ Gale adds, jaw set. ] I'd rather die fighting for freedom than rot away, caged up like an animal. I would've thought you'd feel the same way.
You're being restrained because you tried to hurt someone, Peeta, [ Gale says flatly. ] And how can you call us terrorists when the Capitol sent you to die? Twice?
She's not a person! She's a mutt! Always has been! She was there to try to kill me. The whole time! [or so peeta thinks. But there's something fuzzy about it, and it only makes her bang her fists on the metal bed frame.]
And you're hijacked, but you don't see us trying to strangle you, [ Gale snaps. ] Don't you think if we wanted you dead, you would be? Why do you think we pulled you out of there?
I- I- [Oh no, this doesn't make any sense, and she pulls at the cuffs keeping her in bed, thrashing against the restraints. Why did they do that?] I don't understand! Stop it! You're making everything worse!
[ Slowly, forcing himself to sound calmer, Gale repeats, ] We didn't rescue you from the Capitol because we want you dead, Peeta. We did it because Katniss loves you, and she needs you at her side. You knew that once.
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Gale. She remembered him. Katniss' "cousin". The one that liked her, too. That had known her longer, been close to her. That had rescued her from the Capitol.
No. No, that wasn't a rescue. They'd kidnapped her. He was close with Katniss, and that was bad. He was bad. If he was related to Katniss, then he had to be a mutt, too, right? Shields up, Peeta grit her teeth.] I could have baked in the Capitol. [No, they wouldn't have let her, but that was... shiny. That memory.]
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Sometimes Gale wondered if going to get Peeta was a bad decision on their part, but he'd crush the thought as soon as it came. They needed her, but most importantly, Katniss needed her. But not like this. ]
Why would you want to? [ he asked, not bothering to hide his disgust. ] They can get all the fancy cakes and breads they want, any time. Have you seen what they give us to eat here? [ It gets them by, but it's nothing special. A lot of it is disgusting, in fact, even compared to what he'd had in the Seam. ] The least it would do is brighten up the place.
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[She looks darkly at her handcuffs.] Would it? 'Cause I want to brighten this place up, help all you traitors and mutts. You'll all die in the dark here. [Why did they let Gale in here? The two had never been friends. They never would be.]
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[ A bad attempt at a joke, maybe. He's never been the talker that Peeta is. ]
We won't die here, [ Gale adds, jaw set. ] I'd rather die fighting for freedom than rot away, caged up like an animal. I would've thought you'd feel the same way.
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She pulls at the restraints again, cutting deeper into her soft flesh.]
I am caged. [How could he be so blind?] I'm the hostage of terrorists.
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