⠀
⠀brows furrow in hesitation ; ⠀she was sure her daughter’s persistence stemmed from good intentions————recalling the memories of a younger katniss , attempting to soak her father in the lake while asterid watched afar . ⠀perhaps fresh air would be nice …
&&.
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a smile. for just a second. her hand reaching for her mother's. it was all gone. the terrors. the nightmares. the flashbacks. they were nothing, really, if compared to those she loved. "it's okay, mom", she replied, a tint of hope in her tone. [...]
͏ ͏
⠀
⠀ “⠀you’re good to us too , hay————you were good to maysilee …⠀ to wyatt and louella . ⠀”⠀ she knew what the risk of mentioning their fallen tributes , his friends , would entail . ⠀it was mentioning them that had triggered the stone - throwing at their last
&&.
the sudden lounging forward cost him several seconds to comprehend, arms welcoming the hug and wrapping around her neck; a silent apology that wouldn’t be enough for everything he had caused— his hand on the small of her back. he indulged in the comfort until they parted
+
⠀
⠀ + ⠀ confrontation …⠀still , he had to hear it . ⠀haymitch was good . ⠀whether he believed that or not .
⠀ “⠀besides , you’ve always been forgiven . ⠀me , burdie , merrilee———we just thought …⠀”⠀ well , they’d assumed he wanted nothing to do with them .
&&.
⠀
⠀a timid smile , wrapping the final medical parcel neatly in packing paper before placing it alongside others ; ⠀his stories alone had been enough to intrigue her———not to mention the thought of spending uninterrupted time with him .
⠀
⠀
⠀ + ⠀ her teary nature . ⠀pulling away slightly only to assess the injury to his head once more , a miserable smile finding her features .
⠀ “⠀at least now we match . ⠀”⠀ a small joke , addressing her own scar . ⠀digits wipe away at rogue teardrops .
⠀
⠀
⠀the relief at his decision is instantaneous , yet her brows furrow in distress regardless ; ⠀this time ? ⠀it was she who’d launched herself onto him———a hastier embrace , perhaps , but still much needed . ⠀fearing that , should she let go , she’d lose him for good
&&.
and there he had managed to pour more salt into the wound; brows knitted painfully, a headache forming in the center of his forehead. stilling to surrender. he owed it to them— especially to her. the scar 𝐡𝐞 had caused on her cheek. faint, but visible. his doing.
+
⠀
⠀ + ⠀ this time . ⠀ asterid hadn’t the heart to call burdock down , not yet : ⠀ the last thing she wanted was to scare haymitch away .
⠀ “⠀thank you . ⠀”⠀ though her face had been buried in the crook of his neck , she occasionally sniff had revealed
&&.