@cloveds continued from here
Peeta absent mindedly tended to his wounds. The cloth on his wrist soiled with blood and dirt. The welt on his face swelled up over night, he was lucky he could still see. And the pain in his leg continued to eat at him. Despite all of that though, he managed to make it through a night at least. That was something.
He knew the moment Katniss spotted that bow and arrow their plans were out the window. Nothing but a bullet was going to stop his district partner from at least attempting, and in another situation he might have been enamored by her stubbornness. Right now he was just frustrated.
When her gaze reached his, he can feel it. The presence of danger, like being stalked by a coyote. Her eyes seemed void of color in a way that soaked all the fight in his own. Fine, he won't win any points for trying to act tough or aggressive. He put on a good enough show at initial blood bath as it was. And clearly Clove was not going to be intimidated by the boy from twelve. But the idea of honesty between them tickled Peeta in a curious way that was like laughing at a funeral. Just to add fuel to the fire he smirked at her when she called him lover boy.
Peeta leaned away, back against the log, quirking a brow at her. "You have no idea what you're getting into with her." Peeta shook his head, far too casually for the situation he was in. The awe in his voice wasn't difficult to convey, he was truly enamored with Katniss Everdeen. So there's the honesty.
"But don't think I'm gonna give away her secrets." he continued lightly. He threaded the needle carefully. A part of him wondering if talking Katniss up would get her more sponsors. Set her out to be dangerous and formidable. Keep the tension alive that if he were hurt she'd come rain hell fire. All lies but it could make for a good story. That's what sponsors wanted right? But pissing off Clove and the other careers, daring them to rise to the occasion was not good strategy. Not when Peeta was certain the girl in front of him, and the boy by her side, would happily test the challenge. So he opted for mystery and intrigue instead.
He set a smile to his lips, the kind the crowd watching at home would be familiar with. "Clove you make a better mentor than Haymitch." he quipped.