He didn't need to stay, even though she really wanted him to. In her chaotic emotional tangents of worry, she knew this situation of closeness was not one Haymitch advocated for. She also knew he had seen loved ones die, strangers and even enemies. It made her consider that deep down, he also needed some comfort. That her heart wasn't the only one tattered and bruised. Had he left her side and gone back to his room, she would have been upset, closer to sad than angry but she would have accepted the line drawn between the two of them. That Haymitch was content to die alone like Katniss. Instead his silence turned into acceptance of staying with her in the dark. At least neither of them would be too lonely now. 

Moving over a bit to give him some room, her arm brushed against his and that was when she registered the fact that he was shirtless. If it hadn't been for her protectiveness, she wouldn't have cared but for some reason, it unsettled her even more and she found herself more nervous than relaxed. She began to get second thoughts about asking him to stay. Still, if she changed her mind, she'd hate herself. He moved and put his hand on top of hers. She closed her eyes and began to fit everything together. Why she was happier around him, why she wanted to keep him safe, why she felt more secure around him, and why he made her so confused and anxious. Katniss hadn't ever been in love before. When she had to pretend to love Peeta, she didn't understand what she was trying to prove but now she was pretty sure whatever she was feeling was love.

And she was royally fucked.

Katniss hadn't heard what he said until his chuckle reached her ears. "What?" She glanced to him. Her lips moved into a small smile, "Those must have been really boring for everyone." She commented wryly and moved a bit under the bed so she could get more comfortable. In her head, she tried to rationalize that she wasn't in love with the world's biggest grump, that someone like her couldn't be loved or love someone properly in return; that she couldn't even distinguish what love even was outside of how she felt towards her sister. That made her rather sad as she glanced off. She didn't just want to not kill anyone, she didn't want anymore deaths period. "Thanks for staying." She found herself saying, rather than making some lousy joke. "I don't think Effie would be as...good as you." Katniss laid on her back and glanced to Haymitch, seeing him more as a person than a mentor.

He didn't want Prim to lose hope.

When you lose hope, you're already dead. Gale had learned to reign in his thoughts when hunting. Sure, he'd have days where he felt like catching anything, even a squirrel or bird. And he's start to doubt his luck and Katniss would be by his side, reminding him of his family and how happy they would be to have a hot meal. That was before the Games had hit them, before Gale had looked beyond Katniss to see other possible trails of happiness. Then Prim laughed and he felt even more happy, more glad he had volunteered if he could make her smile and relax a little. "I'm serious." He insisted, not sure why she didn't think guys would find her attractive. And everyone in the Capital already loved her for her, not just because she was Katniss' sister.

"No, you don't know what [i]you're[/i] talking about." Gale grinned at her as he fidgeted to get more comfortable. Primrose then said that if anyone was going to snag a date when it was all over, that would be him. He shook his head, not sure he wanted to date anyone. Then she continued to compliment him and for the first time in a while, the normally stoic collected man felt himself blushing a little at her praise. It was better coming from Prim, than Katniss who just focused on his strengths in the arena at dinner. He cleared his throat and looked off, not wanting to get caught in those eyes of hers. He'd be a goner then. "If I went into hiding, I'd have to take you with me or I'd get pretty lonely." He said before thinking. Now he felt really stupid for just blurting that out. It sounded so lame and not at all like him.

Gale licked his lips and looked back to Prim, "We should get some sleep, dream about home." He said, easing the subject away from romance. He was feeling a lot better since he was able to speak to Prim and ensure that she was feeling better. If she was feeling good, he was feeling good. His eyes moved toward the forest scene before he closed them and got more comfortable, his arm still around Prim but his hand staying on her shoulder. Part of him wondered if Katniss had a sixth sense and knew he was in a very interesting position with her sister. He didn't have a shirt on nor did she have pants, from what he could tell. They had a big day tomorrow. "Good night Prim." He leaned over and kissed her head and pulled the covers around them, making sure they were both comfortable.