On Peeta's More Difficult Days, He Lies In Bed Buried Underneath The Bedsheets For Hours, Muttering Symphonies

On Peeta's more difficult days, he lies in bed buried underneath the bedsheets for hours, muttering symphonies of real and not reals. Katniss likes to run warm baths for him. She especially collects lavender flowers from the woods to craft her own oil and use it for Peeta's baths.

Katniss softly whispers the shaking boy awake and convinces him to take a warm bath to feel better. She guides him to the bathroom and places him at the edge of the tub, slowly removing his prosthetic, shorts, and shirt. She still blushes looking at his figure even though they have been married for 10 years. Katniss gently guides him inside the silky water, struggling to get him into the tub as he's way heavier than her. Katniss runs his soft blonde hair through the water and places a dollop of shampoo in his hair, gently washing it. Peeta moans softly as her hands massage his aching scalp, whispers of 'thank yous' and 'you don't have to do this' echo through the room. Katniss shushes him and continues to work all over his body. She then helps him out of the tub and makes him sit on a stool as she dries his body with a towel. Peeta just smiles at her foolishly as he watches her work the salve over his stump. Katniss bends to kiss his eyes tenderly and pulls a shirt over his head. The boy protests against her actions, saying 'she's done more than enough' and ' he can do the rest himself' , she smiles and brings down her lips to his and says, "Baby, you just let me take care of you."

Katniss takes him back to bed and holds his head against her chest while softly brushing the soft curls off his forehead. He asks her to sing, and so she sings, lulling the scared boy to sleep.