Outta ya Element [open]

Peeta had made sure his family had evacuated his home before making a move. He even gave them a couple extra hours just to make sure. Peeking his head out of the door like he was some sort of criminal trying to not get caught. Grabbing his bag he slung it over his shoulder, it had some charcoal and pieces of paper. If Katniss and him were going to find more… well what ever they were, they needed maps. He wondered how many of the rabbit holes there were. Chuckling to him self as he made up a name for them. It was a safeish name he thought; no one would know what he was talking about if over heard. Making his way down the stairs he remained quiet even skipping over the stair that squeaked. It was around late morning- early afternoon. Katniss had said meet around noontime at the fence but he liked to get places early. It was probably because he was always in the bakery opening early, prepping things and such. Reaching the door he stopped a minute listening up. He could hear his parents bustling around the bakery. So he figured the coast was clear for him to get out of the house. Before he was wrangled in to staying and helping out.

Closing the door silently behind him he took off in a sprint. By no means did Peeta run so as he rounded the corner his breath was heavy. He was most certainly not built to run but he had no choice. Feeling like a spy he hummed a melody as he walked along. The town square was filled the brim with merchants. As if they had nothing better to do than laze around. He now knew why all the people from the seam thought Merchants were spoiled and lazy. Perhaps most of them were but Peeta’s family worked for their food day in and day out. There was never a day the bakery was closed even if majority of the family was sick. Always pulling together when it was most needed even if there were some complaints. Mostly from his older brother who had a life outside of the bakery unlike Peeta. Well until recently that is, most of his time before was spent on hours of making dough. Or decorating cakes, which was his favorite part of baking. Beside from actually handing the pastries over and seeing the bright smiling faces he handed them too. What could he say; he loved seeing people happy in the district since there wasn’t much happiness to go around.

As he entered the Seam he wondered where Katniss lived. Although he doubted she’d want him to come knocking on her door. It might ruin her reputation he thought bitterly but only for a second. He wasn’t one to be mean but she had a grudge against him he hadn’t even known about until recently. It was like he was living in a bubble this whole time until she popped it. He was going to prove him self to her that he wasn’t just a lazy merchant. That he could actually be reliable and not flaky like most people who were more fortunate. Peeta even proved him self all ready by talking to her in the first place. As shallow as that sounded most merchants would have given her a second look. No he was different from the others and always had been since he was a kid. His mother even hated him for it, yet that didn’t change him one bit.

Finally getting to the boundary line he stood there waiting for Katniss. He knew he was a bit early so settled him self down on a rock looking past the gates. It was risky even being this close if a peacekeeper past by. But he was a good boy and they’d probably let him off with a slap on the wrist. Gazing beyond the fence he thought he saw a shadow move. Standing up he blinked a couple times looking more closely. There was something out there but he couldn’t quite tell what it was, animal or beast? Looking back toward District Twelve he didn’t see Katniss at all and curiosity had taken him by surprise. Or quite more possibly wanting to impress Katniss got a hold of him. Slipping past the fence he look around again before heading in to the forest. Everything around him got thick fast it was quite intense. “Hello?” He called out but not too loud just in case it was a peacekeeper patrolling. They usually didn’t go by foot but hey they could have switched it up. “Anybody there?” Finally standing in place trying to listen to the sounds around him but he couldn’t separate sounds like Katniss. He wasn’t a hunter like she was, no he was a baker.

Walking around a bit he knew it was stupid to go out in to the forest. Especially with out someone who knew the forest well. He had only been out here last time with Katniss and was now trying to be a hero. Rolling his eyes at him self he made a circle in hopes that he’d find the fence. Keeping his eyes peeled as best he could he didn’t see anyone. Maybe it was just a deer passing by and yelling just scared it off? Shrugging it off that it was just an animal he let his guard down. It was a rookie mistake; then again in this situation he was a rookie. Battling his way through the thick forest he swore he was almost out of there. Until another turn seemed to take him only deeper. He wondered how Katniss navigated through his hell with out getting lost. Looking up at a tree he could try and shimmy up it. In all honesty he knew he was too heavy to climb a tree high enough to see the district. Sighing in disbelief that he had now gotten him self in trouble. All because he saw a shadow in the forest and wanted to investigate.

Seeing a large tree could have been an oak but Peeta was no expert. He rounded it only to hear a voice behind him. Turning around he looked confused first was that he didn't hear the boy sneaking up and secondly why the boy was carrying tree branch. Figuring that he was supposed to intimidate Peeta. To a point it did yet he was much bigger than the boy but wanted no trouble. The boy then told him to state his name. Shouldn’t it have been the other way around and why hadn’t he seen this boy in the District before? It was all confusing and messed up so Peeta played along not wanting to scare this kid any farther. It was then the boy poked him which made Peeta say, “Ouch! Stop poking me with that branch. I’m not here to hurt you….” Peeta wrinkled his nose rubbing the spot the boy jabbed. Holding up his hands as if saying I’m not here to get you in trouble. Honestly this is what Peeta got for trying to be brave, a stab in the back, literally. Looking around he hoped Katniss would show up with her bow and arrow so this kid would back down. For now Peeta would just have to use his sharp tongue to get the job done.

“My name is Peeta Mellark from District Twelve as you probably all ready know. Why are you out here in the forest? You know you could get in trouble just by stepping foot out here.” It was a laugh because Peeta was out here too. He knew the risks but this kid seemed a bit confused. He wondered if he wasn’t quite right and should just run for his life now. Raising a brow he looked the kid over even his clothes were funny. Not the typical Seam or Merchants clothing. So where did this kid come from then? Then the thought hit him square between the eyes of course the rabbit holes! That would explain everything down to the kid confused face and clothes. “Listen, uh what’s you name?” Shaking his head he continued with his small realization. “Did you just suddenly find yourself here?” If the kid would only answer his questions Peeta could help the kid out. Some how he didn’t think it was going to work out that way but there was a small hope on Peeta’s face.

Peeta kept his tense stance as the kid still held his weapon. He told him his name and what district he was in hoping to calm the kid down. Then again if he had fell through one of those portals with out Katniss and someone approached him he would have done the same thing. Well maybe he would have used his words more but he would have found a weapon of some sort. How did the capitol keep these a secret for so long? It made everything clearer in Peeta’s mind. How the peacekeepers traveled around or if a district did have an up rise how so many soldiers got there so quickly. Questions were just piling on and he had no answers with no one to ask. It seemed the Capitol was one step a head as always only this time the people of the district were now in on the secret. He knew how much trouble he would get in if anyone found out. They would probably kill him in an instant if any of this came out. Glancing at the kid he hoped that he knew to keep his mouth shut. But that was no doubt said with out even having to be verbalized if he was smart enough. Looking him over he seemed to know what was best to keep him self alive.

Relief seemed to wash over the kids face as he sorted out Peeta was telling the truth. His weapon was thrown to the wayside and made Peeta feel better about the situation. He brought his hands down to his sides but still in view. To show that he wasn’t going to do anything funny they were now on even terms. Really they weren’t, if the kid was going to attack him with out a weapon it wouldn’t be pretty. Peeta was a big guy as much as he hated to brag and could take him down. But the kid in front of him was smaller and could probably run faster. Not built with that kind of agility he was too heavy set and broad shouldered. It seemed like a fight wasn’t necessary whatever district this kid was from it seemed they both knew hardships. Possibly this kid knew more than Peeta looking sun kissed he figured he worked outside. Peeta would never know that kind of labor having the bakery but if that were ever taken away he’d be forced to figure it out. Although that would never happen there baked goods were profitable, always would be. Baking was the best skill he could ever have for living. If he was ever thrown in to the games he doubted he would be able to bake his way out of it.

The bitter laugh caught him off guard a bit. Then again this kid spoke the truth they would both be in trouble of a peacekeeper walked by. It was punishable by law if they were out of the boundaries. There districts being safe even though that was just a ruse. Even in the Districts if you stepped a foot out of line you could still be punished. Usually out in the town square in front of family, friends and people you didn’t know. All gathered around the watch the peacekeepers throw you around like a doll before killing you. “Your right, both our heads would be served on a platter to the President. It won’t come to that, I swear. The peacekeepers in this district are lazy and stupid. They would even dream of us being out here on the outskirts.” Peeta wasn’t one hundred percent sure that the peacekeepers wouldn’t come out here. He had only been here once with Katniss but from the way she moved around out here. It seemed that she wasn’t too alert someone was going to find her. Then again she was a lot quieter than Peeta. Being light on her feet unlike him, every branch he came in counter with he cracked. Not on purpose but before now he never had a reason to learn how to be quiet.

“Nice to meet you Damien, what district do you come from?” It was crucial for Peeta to know since they wanted to map out the portals and where they led too. He could be a perfect piece to the puzzle that was slowly coming together. They still had a lot to learn about them but everything counted at this point. He noted that Damien didn’t give his last name probably a defense mechanism. Or perhaps so Peeta couldn’t track him like he’d know how to do that anyway. Damien was a bit to paranoid for Peeta to handle then again maybe Peeta was to relaxed with everything. He was an honest kid and planned to stay that way even if it led to his demise. His thoughts were jogged back in to reality as Damien began talking again about how he got here. “I thought so, these portals seem to be everywhere. I wonder how no one stumbled on to them before. Or if they did aren’t alive to talk about it.” His face going a bit paler as he thought about it. What did that mean for them? Did the capitol know when one had been used and by who? His mind went on a twenty questions game with no one to play back with.

Part of Peeta wanted to bring this boy back to his district. But with the clothes he was sporting he’d stick out like a red thumb. He wasn’t really good at plans it wasn’t his thing. No his charm was sweet talking people or just making them feel comfortable. He knew it worked cause Damien had put down his weapon. Or maybe it was because this was District Twelve the poorest district. It gave them a sense of security. As if they were some how from two different worlds but the same one at the same time. It most certainly would have been a different reaction if this were a District One kid. They’d probably be battling it out now Peeta would be in flight response trying to save his own neck. But all that didn’t matter now it was here nor there so it wasn’t a problem. Looking around once more he had no idea where he was. They both were sitting targets if peacekeepers decided to do a sweep. Well maybe not Damien he seemed to be able to hold his own.

Swearing he heard something his head jerked but it disappeared. Maybe something was hunting them and it wasn’t a human. This made him get a bit nervous he had no way to defend himself. He was a merchant kid after all never really exploring the woods like some in his district. Honestly he had no reason too, being better fed than most. There was no reason for him to pick up another skill other than baking and frosting. Of course the occasional painting but he wouldn’t be able to paint him self out of this picture if it got gruesome. Turning his head back toward Damien he looked around trying to spot the portal he flew out of. “Do you know how to get back?” This was really the only plan he could thing of. Shove the kid back in to his district and try to find his own way back. He knew it might take a while but he’d eventually do it. Moving on unruly lock of ash blond hair out of his face it fought with him. Only making matter worse although he tried to look calm on the outside. Masking his feeling was never something he mastered but tried his best.

Then he really did hear something but it was too late. What ever it was had tackled him and nearly knocked him over. Trying to grab at it his wild blue eyes saw a familiar face. His tense body slowly stopped trying to fight as Katniss held him close before pulling away. Circling him like a hungry dog trying to find the best way to attack. He wanted to reach out and grab her before she went in to hyperventilation mode but couldn’t seem to get her. She was too quick on her feet for him leaving a very dizzy Peeta in the process. Finally he stopped turning around before her words invaded his mind. “I’m fine Katniss.” He said raising a brow. He had never seen this kind of reaction toward him before from her. Almost scaring him how fierce she could be. Then before he had time to react her voice got loud and she smacked him. Flinching away she probably didn’t notice as she went on her tirade. “Katniss, Kaaaatttniiissss!” He tried to get her attention but it was no use. She was in some other world of him disappearing probably dead forever.

When she stopped he knew she noticed the boy standing there. This is why he was trying to get her attention. If Peeta didn’t threaten him Katniss surely would send up signal flares to him now. Eyeing her bow he didn’t want her to do anything stupid. Watching her hands grip the bow they were almost white not sure if he was hostile or not. “Stop acting like he’s from the Capitol.” Peeta cut in to her with his words. Stepping forward putting a hand on her shoulder. “He doesn’t mean any harm, he walked through one of those portals. Obviously there are more of them on other outskirts of the districts.” None of this was reassuring to Peeta. Knowing more about the portals were dangerous. For all of them now and they were in the same boat whether they liked it or not. “Damien this is Katniss and Katniss meet Damien. And play nice maybe putting your bow away?” He tried to prod but knew it was ultimately up to her.