Haymitch's encouragement of having left left with Gale wasn't surprising in the least.

Looking back, she probably should have. It would have saved her and those she knew a of pain and trouble. Then again their district wouldn't be filled with new found hope and it meant two other lives could have also been spared since she and Peeta both came back, even with targets on their backs, they were alive. He then faked having a fever to get out going into the Games. This caused Katniss to give a gentle chuckle as she imagined herself trying to feign sickness and Snow actually buying it like some dear old dad. Then again, they surely wanted tributes at the top of their game. It was a wild shot in the dark but maybe it would work, if all else failed. She glanced at Haymitch, cracking an actual grin. They could come up with the weirdest things sometimes. Well, when he was sober and in a decent mood and when she wasn't worrying about her loved ones and trying to keep everyone at arm's length, then yes, they were a weird duo.

He then assured her that she was a "hot commodity" and that people still liked her and that she could use it to her advantage. Katniss chewed on that idea for a moment. The others were surely pissed, like she was. Why would Snow risk poking them all with a large stick when they were all pretty deadly? She didn't understand it. Haymitch had tried to tell her before they left the Capital when they had won. He tried to warn her but she didn't understand. It was slowly coming into focus but Katniss was still struggling to figure out the big picture but in her mind, she didn't need one. All she needed to do was protect Prim and Peeta and Gale and Haymitch and her mother and anyone else who didn't deserve to see such horror and destruction. "Thanks." She said lightly, her grin having faded to just a small smile. Haymitch didn't dish out compliments very often so she appreciated it. 

"No." She replied when he brought up his own Games. Katniss knew she could have looked at the footage with Peeta but when they sat down, he didn't seem to have the stomach for it. And whenever the Games came on when she was back home at the Hob, she paid little mind to them, not due to their nature but because she didn't care. She didn't want to care and watch people get killed. Katniss was still interested in what had happened to Haymitch and how someone like him managed to outsmart a good number of people. She knew he was a good tactician and his physical capabilities were also good but to come from nothing to becoming a victor was a pretty big feat and she wanted to know how he did it. When they first met, she wanted to ask him but Peeta advised her against it, since she and Haymitch were already on shaky terms with one another. "What was it like...for you?" She finally asked him, unknowingly holding her breath.

The more time the trio spent around the table, the more evident the shift became.

Gale knew he would have to go soon. He knew his family would want to spend time with him, as they had been doing a lot recently. It was a good, welcomed change for the usual day to day life he had developed when Katniss was away. He wasn't sure how things would be different this time, his mind was not that far ahead. The boy just continued to eat and when things appeared to be wrapping up, Primrose suggested her mother turn in for the night. Then she cleared the table. He stood up to help but then sat back down, unsure if his aid would be well received or not. Gale drummed his fingers on the table and mentally decided to at least say goodbye before leaving. Even though things between them were tense, he didn't want to be rude and not thank Prim for her hospitality.

In the background he could hear the water turn on and then off. He got to his feet, figuring now would be the best time to try and slip out without doing anymore damage than he had already done. He didn't really need any sort of leftovers, even if the food was pretty good, he had things back at the Seam. Prim returned and before he could excuse himself with proper politeness, Primrose spoke up. She apologized and said if he wanted to volunteer, he should and that she wasn't mad at him. The last bit made Gale smile and relax a bit more. It was pretty clear they were unsure of how to proceed after things had been said and time had slipped away over the past two weeks. "I don't...I don't want to volunteer but I might have to." He said, trying to be careful with his wording. "I won't know until the day the others are reaped." He said and shrugged a little.

This wasn't easy for either of them. "And I'd hate for me to leave without us clearing things up." Gale added, looking back up to the blond. "I care about you and your sister a lot." He said. "I want to protect her but I also want to look after you, not because Katniss asked me to or because I think you're helpless-" He stopped himself and glanced off, not entirely sure where he was going. Wherever it was, it was off track. "Katniss is capable of coming back, maybe I am too...but I don't want us to think about any of that. I mean the Capital shouldn't be able to take away our time together and peace of mind." Gale told Prim. "I get why you were angry but...it was a little lonely without you around. I missed you and would have preferred you talk to me rather than brush me off." He said quietly. "Besides, girls look a lot cuter when they're smiling." He smiled a little, wishing Katniss would do it more, but Prim had a good enough smile herself and he hated to think he caused Primrose to frown or even worse, cry.