[He returns the embrace for a moment before he bends down to her level, putting a hand on her shoulder. He tries hard to speak steadily, maintaining eye contact as he does so.]
I need you to listen for a minute, alright? This is important.
I know you're scared. I am, too. And that's okay. But Katniss and I, we would never let anything happen to you. You're safe. You're going to be okay, no matter what.
[His voice is as slow and controlled as he can force it, though it's obvious he's nervous as hell.]
Yeah. Neither of us will be hurt. And now that they know what happened, those people will face justice. There are laws here, it's different than the Games back home. Okay?
[He's not sure if he can bring himself to believe that, though. He doesn't know what to think.]
[ Katniss has been busy making sure her arrows are all sharp, ever since she saw. Ever since she heard. She wants to be prepared. She wants to protect Rue, and she wants to be able to protect Peeta, too. If anyone comes hunting for them, she'll show them what a real hunter looks like. She's finished a lot of the work she wants, making tens upon tens of reserve arrows, making sure she has plenty of bowstrings, an extra bow or two just in case... They're not near as nice as the one she came with, straight from the capitol, but... They'll do in a pinch. And she needs to be prepared. This is how she handles things. She'll be found testing out the snap on one of her new bows. When she catches sight of Rue and Peeta, though, she sets it down and makes her way over to them. ]
You two haven't left, have you? You're staying inside?
[He releases Rue's hand as soon as he catches sight of Katniss, walking forward quickly. Irrational as it is, there's this desperate need to make sure she's really there, more than just an illusion. He rests a hand on her arm, closing his eyes for a moment before looking at her.]
We're fine. We haven't left. [He notices the bows and arrows and though it makes him nervous - what is she planning? - he doesn't have it in him to say anything about it yet.]
Edited (omg html i'll end you) Date: 2012-07-11 02:38 am (UTC)
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treehopping
action.
Date: 2012-07-04 06:46 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-04 06:54 pm (UTC)Rue hesitates for a moment, then flings her arms around his waist.]
action.
Date: 2012-07-04 07:11 pm (UTC)I need you to listen for a minute, alright? This is important.
action.
Date: 2012-07-04 07:12 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-04 07:17 pm (UTC)[His voice is as slow and controlled as he can force it, though it's obvious he's nervous as hell.]
action.
Date: 2012-07-04 07:23 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-04 11:05 pm (UTC)[He can't make guarantees about the Core, of course, but he's sure Katniss especially will do everything in her power to protect the younger girl.]
action.
Date: 2012-07-04 11:17 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-07 12:33 am (UTC)[For now, it's easier to try and ease her worries than to try to work through his own feelings on the subject.]
action.
Date: 2012-07-07 01:27 am (UTC)[She'll believe that, the three of them together, they're stronger.]
action.
Date: 2012-07-09 03:04 am (UTC)[He's not sure if he can bring himself to believe that, though. He doesn't know what to think.]
action.
Date: 2012-07-09 04:54 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-09 07:16 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-09 09:41 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-09 09:50 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-09 11:25 pm (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-10 04:46 am (UTC)[He pauses, self conscious.]
Do you need a few minutes alone beforehand?
action.
Date: 2012-07-10 03:52 pm (UTC)I don't want to be alone. [She's keeping hold of his hand.]
action.
Date: 2012-07-11 12:57 am (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-11 01:12 am (UTC)action.
Date: 2012-07-11 01:42 am (UTC)You two haven't left, have you? You're staying inside?
action.
Date: 2012-07-11 02:38 am (UTC)We're fine. We haven't left. [He notices the bows and arrows and though it makes him nervous - what is she planning? - he doesn't have it in him to say anything about it yet.]
action.
Date: 2012-07-11 02:14 pm (UTC)