It shouldn't have been a surprise. The war turned the Girl on Fire into the Mockingjay, and the Mockingjay into the most important celebrity in the Former Republic of Panem. Rarely a day went by when the two of them weren't followed by someone with a camera, catching them in the mundane daily rituals that followed their return to the remains of D12: rebuild, bury the dead, learn to lean on each other, attempt not to weep.
(There were only seven Victors left, after all)
Only he ever agreed to talk to them. Katniss would go catatonic near reporters, and Haymitch threw knives. Peeta knew he could keep the reporters at bay, could give them just enough to sate them so they’d leave the other two alone.
Peeta had gotten used to getting quoted in the papers, which Effie sent to him with every postal delivery. He read those, though he and Katniss both refused to watch themselves on television, and anyway, their set had been smashed during one of their dark days.
He was working with bricks in the hot sun when Thom pulled him aside, dragged him to a tv screen to see a brightly dressed Capitol woman interviewing an actor who looked so much like him, he had to do a double-take.
“We think our new country is ready for a love story, and what’s more romantic than that of the Mockingjay and her lover?” the actor said.
“What indeed,” the reporter said.
“And we think it’ll ultimately be healing for a lot of people,” the actor said carefully, clearly aware he was out of his depths. “Healing. We want to heal.”
The reporter smiled, turning away. “Next, we go live to Johanna Mason, former Victor, for her reaction. Johanna? Are you there?”
Johanna’s face filled the screen, the oceans of D4 behind her. Peeta talked to her on occasion, as he’d been elected by Katniss to handle all phone calls, but he hadn’t seen her in person since they’d been in D13 together. He leaned closer.
“Well, Peaches, I have heard of this little movie, and I think it’s fucking bullshi—”
The feed quickly cut back to Peaches.
(Katniss went away for three terrifying days and nights after the news spread. She returned with no explanation as to where she’d been, and she refused to ever speak of it.)
The day the movie premiered, Katniss barricaded herself in their bedroom with provisions and didn't leave for two days. Haymitch retreated to his bottle. Peeta watched the movie from the safety and privacy of the bakery.
The Hunger Games, Movie
(There were only seven Victors left, after all)
Only he ever agreed to talk to them. Katniss would go catatonic near reporters, and Haymitch threw knives. Peeta knew he could keep the reporters at bay, could give them just enough to sate them so they’d leave the other two alone.
Peeta had gotten used to getting quoted in the papers, which Effie sent to him with every postal delivery. He read those, though he and Katniss both refused to watch themselves on television, and anyway, their set had been smashed during one of their dark days.
He was working with bricks in the hot sun when Thom pulled him aside, dragged him to a tv screen to see a brightly dressed Capitol woman interviewing an actor who looked so much like him, he had to do a double-take.
“We think our new country is ready for a love story, and what’s more romantic than that of the Mockingjay and her lover?” the actor said.
“What indeed,” the reporter said.
“And we think it’ll ultimately be healing for a lot of people,” the actor said carefully, clearly aware he was out of his depths. “Healing. We want to heal.”
The reporter smiled, turning away. “Next, we go live to Johanna Mason, former Victor, for her reaction. Johanna? Are you there?”
Johanna’s face filled the screen, the oceans of D4 behind her. Peeta talked to her on occasion, as he’d been elected by Katniss to handle all phone calls, but he hadn’t seen her in person since they’d been in D13 together. He leaned closer.
“Well, Peaches, I have heard of this little movie, and I think it’s fucking bullshi—”
The feed quickly cut back to Peaches.
(Katniss went away for three terrifying days and nights after the news spread. She returned with no explanation as to where she’d been, and she refused to ever speak of it.)
The day the movie premiered, Katniss barricaded herself in their bedroom with provisions and didn't leave for two days. Haymitch retreated to his bottle. Peeta watched the movie from the safety and privacy of the bakery.
It got almost everything wrong, thankfully.