katswifee - Tumblr blog

katswifee · 2 months

Text

Wild girl - Part 4 (Ongoing)

(Katniss Everdeen x Fem Reader) ❀

Summary: You and Katniss dry off at your home and she finally opens up. She'd love to stay, but she has to take care of her family, so you walk her back home.

Warnings: Very slight descriptions of injuries/damaging habits. This is an interactive story—the poll at the bottom will be open for a week and will choose the direction of the next part! <3

Word Count: 2248

“What if we hung out a little longer?”

Katniss tilted her head, gray eyes big and curious. She studied you for a moment as if she was running your suggestion through gears in her mind, it was like she couldn’t believe it.

“What do you mean?” She finally asked, her guarded voice betrayed by her expression.

You stepped a little closer to her, the two of you still huddling beneath the picnic blanket from the pelting rain. “You could come back to my house, we could dry off and just keep hanging out, out of the rain–or we could sit on the porch and watch the rain.” Your offer was tentative, hesitant almost. It seemed as if Katniss was going to decline from the way she was studying you, but then her lips lightened into a small smile.

“That sounds… really nice.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Her smile widened slightly as her tough walls finally began to break down due to the warm beating in her heart. “I’d really love to do that.”

You grinned back at her, hardly able to believe it. You’d managed to sway the most reserved, and beautiful, girl in the world into not only going on a picnic with you, but now coming to your house to hang out with. You felt like you were on top of the world.

Katniss noticed the giddiness and the gleam in your eyes and chuckled. “Well, are we going or not?” She asked, tugging the collar of her jacket up. “I’m soaked.”

You nodded in agreement, deciding it would be best to get out of the rain. And so, instead of splitting up at the fence, you both returned to your house.

It was nothing big, your house, but it was home either way; a small cozy cabin tucked on the edge of town with not much more than the necessities. You’d lived here your whole life and although sometimes larger houses, such as those in the Victors Village, seemed more appealing, you couldn’t imagine leaving.

Katniss seemed to like your house, though. It was quite similar to hers, just a little cleaner and more designed for one person rather than a family.

“Your house is quite cozy.” Katniss observed as she slipped out of her mud covered boots. She slid her damp jacket off and looked around for a hook to hold it. Upon finding none, she glanced at you.

You took her jacket and just hung it on the back of one of the chairs. You were about to give her a small tour when you noticed a few leaves poking out from her hair. Carefully, you reached to remove them when she spun to face you.

“What are you doing?” Katniss asked, nose wrinkled. She ducked when you tried once more and swatted your hand like a defiant cat.

“You have something in your hair.” You reached out again, placing another hand on her shoulder to hold her still.

Katniss ducked again, now just leaning into the game. “What is it?” She ran her fingers through her now wavy hair but found nothing.

Ignoring her question, you slung an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against you, keeping her in place.

“Stay still, Wild Girl. Stop squirming.” You muttered, reaching up to pluck the leaves from her thick waves.

Katniss stiffened a little at the sudden closeness, then relaxed, her face pinkening. “Is… is it a bug?” She stammered.

“No.” You stepped back and held your findings up to her face. “Just some leaves. Were you running through the bushes?” You teased, enjoying the way her blush deepened.

Katniss finally snapped out of her flustered state and broke free from your grip. She raked her fingers through her damp hair once more, trying to smooth it out. “No, no.” She stuttered, shaking her head. After a deep breath, she faced you once more, this time a bit more confident. “I was just… collecting all the stray leaves so none would get stuck in your hair, Pretty Girl.”

So this is how things were going to be played.

You just rolled your eyes and pointed to the small door that led to your bedroom. “I’ll get you some dry clothes and then we can just hang out.”

Katniss accepted with a grateful nod and soon you were both in dry sweaters and fuzzy socks, sitting down by the fireplace and drying off.

“Thank you for this.” Katniss sighed contently, biting at the edges of her nails and rolling her shoulders. She was still a little on edge but was relaxing a bit more. “You’re really sweet—Ow!”

She winced, pulling her hand from her mouth to observe the damage she’d done around her nails, a little blood on her skin. “Shit.”

“Are you okay?” Instinctively, you clasped your hand around hers and peering at her wound. The tips of her fingers were practically raw from… who knows how long, of her indulging in her nervous habit. She winced again and pulled away.

“I’m fine.” She mumbled, lifting her hand to her lips to suck the blood away and pretend nothing was wrong.

You took her hand back and shook her head. “No, let me get some bandages.”

You didn’t give her a chance to object as you were suddenly up and scrounging around for some bandages to wrap her fingers up. She scowled as you sat beside her and tried to pull away again.

“Come on, let me help you.” You urged gently, softening your voice and your expression. “It’ll be easier if I do it.”

Reluctantly, she let her hand relax under your care, but she clearly wasn’t happy about it. “It’s nothing to get all worked up over… they’re just a bit sore.”

As you began to wrap up her bleeding finger, you noticed just how bad of a state her whole hand was in. There were deep callouses and bruises from using her bow, and around her nails were still very raw and thin.

“Just a bit?” You shook your head, deciding now to wrap the tips of all of her fingers, at least to prevent her from hurting herself anymore at the moment. “Your fingers are falling apart.”

Katniss seemed to deflate a little at that comment and she fell silent.

“It’s not a bad thing, I’m not mad.” You assured her quickly, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. “I’m just worried, that’s all.”

“Well don’t be.”

The surprise from her snap must've been clear across your face as she backed down a little with a heavy sigh.

“I’m sorry.” Katniss turned her head. “I’m not used to… people taking care of me like this. It feels wrong.”

You made a soft noise, though it was unclear whether it was of surprise or disappointment. You moved to wrapping the last of her fingers, tucking the bandage gently around her skin and then giving her hand a squeeze when you finished.

“That’s what friends are for.” You murmured. “You can count on me for anything.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.” You nodded with an affirmative smile, lifting your gaze to hers, with a shock.

For the first time ever, those deep gray eyes of hers were misty and soft, vulnerable even. Her lips were quivering and after a second of holding your stare she had to turn away.

“I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?” Your smile eased into a frown and you shook your head. “Don’t be sorry, it’s okay.”

Katniss forced a weak smile and stared at you as if she was debating something. After a few moments of deep thought, she moved to sit beside you and curled her knees to her chest, her body leaning into yours. Her warmth radiated through the thick sweater she now adorned, and her head slowly fell onto your shoulder.

You had to be dreaming, there was no way this was happening. It was as if Katniss had completely given up the tough girl act the second you showed her some true, deep kindness. She’d gone from a feral creature to a soft being who forgot all other functions besides seeking lost affection.

A small smile crept onto your face and slowly, so as not to scare her, you slid an arm around her now tight figure and pulled her into your side.

“Are you okay?” You asked her softly, feeling her face brush against your shoulder as she settled and got comfortable.

Her breath tickled your neck. “...I am now.”

Your lips lifted higher and you tightened your grip around her, resting your chin against her forehead. “Good.” You murmured, voice light and airy so you didn’t break the thin blanket of intimacy.

Katniss sat there with you for a few minutes before she lifted her head back up. “Thank you.” She whispered, lips inches away from your flushed cheeks, her face the same color. “For all of this.”

You shook your head and gave her a tight squeeze. Once you managed to draw a squeak of protest from her, you laughed and let her go.

“Thank you, too.” You smiled. “You’re a really good friend.”

“Friend…” Katniss repeated as she laid her head back on your shoulder. The word felt sticky and thick on her tongue, she hadn’t had a friend in ages. But yet, you couldn’t help but feel there was something more to her simple utterance.

You just nodded and ran your fingers through her hair, working out the knots. It was a good thing Katniss’s head was on your shoulder and not your chest which concealed your racing heart.

You couldn’t help but maybe imagine this as being something more than friends… But you knew better than to push it, at least for the moment.

This moment, and this friendship, were beautiful as they were at the moment. And if that was all that was meant to be, you’d be content.

You and Katniss sat in a gentle silence for a long time, cuddling by the fireplace and listening to the rain splatter against the window. Eventually you heard her stomach gurgle with hunger and laughed.

“Do you want to stay for dinner?” You offered quietly.

Katniss looked at you longingly, but forced herself to decline. “I’d love to, but I have to get back home…”

If you didn’t know how devoted she was to caring for her family, Primrose especially, you’d be a little hurt, but you knew that Katniss’s main priority would always be them, even if it meant skipping out on fun things like a shared dinner.

“Alright.” You tried to conceal your disappointment with a smile as you helped her up to her feet. “Let’s get you home before it gets too dark then.”

Katniss only nodded in response.

Her clothes were still damp so she threw them into a bag–the sweater on her body still yours–then met you at the door. You each put on a mostly water-proof jacket and then set out into the downpour.

The walk to Katniss’s house wasn’t quite long, but it was very slippery. You completely bit it once and had to make the rest of the trek with muddy pants and a bit of a dampered dignity.

Katniss wouldn’t let you live it down either. Her arm was around your waist half of the time and you could hear her insistence through the rain that it was to keep you on your feet. She made sure to hold you close around particularly mud caked spots. If it weren’t as dark and gloomy as it was, you probably could’ve seen the glowing blush on her face.

And finally, you made it back to Katniss’s house. The two of you ran onto the porch and shook off, giggling.

“You two are soaked.” Katniss’s mother said with surprise as she opened the door. She ushered you both inside, not giving you a chance to decline and she sent you to wear some of Katniss’s clothes.

Katniss was waiting for you when you came out.

Her dark hair was very frizzy and curly from the rain, and her cheeks were flushed from the cold, but she looked quite happy anyway.

“I have a snare right by the meadow.” She said as she slid her jacket back on. “It caught some game earlier. I’m going to go grab it real quick so we can have that for dinner.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“No, stay here.” Katniss shook her head. “You’ve done so much for me, it’s my turn now.” Her serious expression softened into a chuckle as she tried to ease the sudden tension. “Plus, you’d only get my pants dirty.”

You looked down at your legs. Her pants were a bit too long on you and practically touched the floor, but you didn’t mind. Your sweater didn’t exactly fit her perfectly either.

“Fine.” You rolled your eyes but matched her smile. “Be safe, and quick.”

“Will do.” Katniss seemed a little touched by your farewell and the quick pat to your shoulder was a surprise to the both of you. She just shrugged it off and then left.

You stood, looking around her house and debating what to do.

In the kitchen, you could hear Katniss’s mother preparing some sort of other food, probably some of the roots and other plants that had been bustling with the oncoming spring. And in the other room sat Primrose, fevrently studying some books.

You had a little time to kill, so you decided to make yourself useful while waiting for Katniss’s return.

Pt. 1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3

#the hunger games #katniss everdeen #katniss x reader #katniss everdeen x reader #fic rec

27 notes · View notes