“nostalgia is a liar. nothing was ever as good as you remember it to be. there’s a reason you don’t talk to that person anymore, there’s a reason you’re not part of each other’s lives. don’t trust nostalgia. grieve. reflect. move on.”

Accurate to this story in so many ways. . .

“They can design dream weapons that come to life in my hands, but they will never brainwash me into the necessity of using them. I no longer feel any allegiance to these monsters called human beings, despise being one myself. I think Peeta was onto something about us destroying one another and letting some decent species take over. Because something is significantly wrong with a creature that sacrifices its children’s lives to settle its differences. You can spin it any way you like. Snow thought the Hunger Games were an efficient means of control. Coin thought the parachutes would expedite the war. But in the end, who does benefit? No one. The truth is, it benefits no one to live in a world where these thing happen.“
- Katniss Everdeen

I'v finally got a chance to read this story and I loved it! Thank you for sharing.

Such a tribute to Prim! Her beloved sister didn't hold her killer accountable. The person who designed a bomb intended to kill medics and first responders like Prim gets a dumb girl as a prize for his trouble! Prim would really be so proud. So would Peeta. Such an independent fiery one, letting an estranged friend speak on her behalf. Simpering synchophant.

Can you write a full galeniss story. Just leave out the boring weakling. She said she was denying herself being with a real man. Just write her being with one. Problem solved.

Im glad I kept reading this because I knew she never loved that weak ass Peeta. He's such a loser. She never even said love you to him but she did say it to Gale. I love how you've redeemed Gale and showed what a weakling Peeta is. She really wanted to be with Gale but felt sorry for Peeta so went back to him. Hahahaha. Nice job.

"And Thom looked in on me plenty." Katniss just bets he did"

Lmao. Are you hating on Thom now?

"Distant, unfamiliar, already gone"

He was gone as soon as he took a page from snow's playbook and designed that bomb. And you know that.

"He wants to stay, with her, but he needs to go, back to his life."

His life his girlfriend. Don't be a dumb girl, Katniss.

"Peeta notices Gale's outstretched hand. And then he just stares at it in distrust, as though it will bite. To his credit, Gale just shifts to pat his head."

Even in his current state Peeta recognizes that Gale can't be trusted. I bet that's some of the real Peeta reacting there. And how dare Gale pay him on the head like an annoying child or a good pet. And Katniss thinks thats something Gale should get credit for doing? She really is blinded by his "overwhelming manliness" isn't she? How sickening.

""I thought it might help." Gale says, staring off. Then, "Her name is Isle." Her name, the blonde, his assistant. By naming her, he's telling Katniss that she does matter, more than he originally let on. He's also telling her that, to him, Katniss matters more, always more."

Haha damn. Katniss really can't read people can she? What a disservice to her character because she was very adept at reading people in canon, even if she often deferred those impressions. No, Katniss, he's not telling you you matter more. He's admitting that HE LIED and he thinks you're too dumb for it to matter because you don't hold him accountable for anything. How the fuck do you conclude "I matter" from that exchange. Lmao Katniss is an idiot.

"She wants, so badly, to run after him with her bloodstained pants, in her bare feet, and beg him to stay."

Then why don't you run after him? Because you know good and wel he'd NEVER stay and yet you're still making excuses for him! What a silly girl you are acting like

"She was still high on the hunt, on Gale."

That's about right. He's only good for a short term fix.

Given what's happened here with Katniss ABUSING Peeta, just like his mother did, it's clear that she has more respect and esteem for manly Gale. But it's unclear WHY since he is perfectly fine with planning, committing, and engaging in war crimes and lying about then nature of his relationship with a woman. she would not be ok with that.

He designs bombs and she abuses the mentally ill. Maybe they do deserve each other.

"Katniss should probably be concerned, but she buries it, Gale here, so much possibility."

Not even concerned about the boy *she* brought from the Capitol. Wow, possibility for what, Katniss? For you to teach him Something about accountability and responsibility for actions? For not becoming a piece in their games? Oh no. A chance for you to be a hypocrite slut.

"It's like they're in a cave, their last night on earth. The conversation ebbs and flows, so very free and easy, the way it's always been between them, the way it always should be."

Wasn't she with Peeta when she was last in a cave engaging in free and easy banter? No remidners there of the boy she stole away to save? Ok Katniss.

"She wants to know, if she should have words with Haymitch."

She knows she should have words with Haymitch. She's acting dumb to advance a storyline that involves Gale but she knows what she needs to do. Of course she should have words with Haymitch and she knows that. stop *acting* like you don't know what you should be doing.

"I'm still acting as the Mockingjay's official consort."

Jesus, what? They haven't even talked and he's speaking for her? And she's just again totally ok with that? Where the fuck is the girl on fire?! She is acting like Gale is her damn god or something. Was she hikacked too?

"Dangerous territory, this. She wants to know, more than anything, if Gale's bombs had been in those silver parachutes. If it had been one of his traps that got her sister killed."

Who ducking cares if he knew?! HE DESIGNED a bomb intended to kill first responders and that bomb worked exactly as he planned and designed it. Whether or not the bomb that actually killed Prim was his is irrelevant and immaterial because he was the source of the design! . The important point is that he was and is still ok with that design! Use your backbone Katniss! Call him out! Oh that's right you can't because you're afraid of him and his manliness. You're a sellout Katniss and I can't believe this is included as viable storyline. It's such a disservice to her character.

"No." He's vehement. "Coin used me and Beetee, just like she used you. She told us those bombs would only be used against Snow and his men."

That's a fucking lie and you know it Katniss. He is being disingenuous and manipulating you. You told Gale that the DESIGN was unethical and he scared you into submission to shut your mouth. You're still keeping your mouth shut (but legs open!) to something you know is wrong. Either this is a convenient way to get Katniss and him kissing or Katniss has lost her moral compass and sense of self.

" I thought it would help us win the war, and it did. It probably saved countless lives, an incisive blow to the heart of the Capitol. But it cost me something that mattered more."

So you care only about losing Katniss (oh and Prim, by way of her death). This isn't ok but Katniss lets it slide because, what, he's giving her an arm rub?

"How she had to feed him small meals, five times a day, so he could regain his weight. His brain scans, like the dark side of the moon. His wetting the bed."

In the last chapter when Peeta asks this question about being a man I wonder if she ever revealed that she had told Gale that Peeta wet the bed. Wonder how Peeta would feel about that. And about the fact that it was a Gail's suggestion and idea to send Peeta back to the capital.

"And Katniss knows, she knows, what this is and why he's here, in District 12, and why they're here, and why this is so very right. She looks at him, this strong, beautiful man, features painted in fire, but all she can see is the boy he used to be. And to this boy, who asks her—again and again—if she loves him, she finally gives an answer that is right and true. But she doesn't answer with her voice, words fail her. She answers with her lips. She's kissing him, she's kissing Gale. "

So all it takes is him saying he was afraid, showing a little vulnerability for her to open up? So easy! And there's that allusion to manliness again. Whatever happened to not our woods not our way? Gale and Katniss don't work and it's nothing to do with Peeta.

He is strong and beautiful compared to the weak, ugly thing Peeta has become. Isn't that right? Isn't that the point of comparison here? You've written yourself into a corner. Without showing Peeta as a man for more than a page, after this chapter you've given the reader no reason to believe Katniss would ever go back to the boy that is Peeta. With such overwhelming feelings and emotions for Gale - which she could have explored before now, nothing was stopping her - there's no reason in this universe to hold out for Peeta. There simply isn't.

"I know," Gale says at last. He doesn't sound hurt. Or surprised. He just sounds resigned, like he knew how this was going to end."

So why start? You knew she was in no mindset to engage in any kind of sexual or emotional act and you pressed ahead anyway. Stopping when she said stop is the legal thing to do. Not engaging in this in the first place would've been the moral and ethical thing to do. But of course he knows nothing about either of those things. And of course he's not hurt. He has a girlfriend at home. You're just that unattainable piece that has to conquer to feel like a man. You're clearly not that special or he would have bothered to check on you before now.

"You know I love you."

Hmm. Wonder what kind of love this is. She's never said it to Peeta. Perhaps saying it might help recovery. But nooo you can't say it to him because he's a weak boy.
"She can't even speak because she's terrified, at what she's denying herself. At what she might never have again."

Katniss you really are a fool. You are denying yourself a chance with a murderer? Someone who still stands behind designing bombs to kill innocent people? Someone who thinks he's your guard and owner of your story? Someone who already has a girlfriend he lied about and is willing to drop on a dime? That's no loss. And if you're so concerned about having a "man" there's Tom waiting and available and likely many others so you definitely could have the opportunity with someone else. This bomb designer isn't the only man in the world.

""I'm sorry, you know."
For killing Prim with by dirty bomb thereby losing the chance to own oops be with you. Otherwise the bomb was terrific!

"And I'll always be waiting."

Which is why I have this brochure to manipulate you into sending Peeta away so I can slide in and finally get my chance. It's my time! In the meantime I'll be fucking my girlfriend back in D2.

Snow' sold mansion is a place of refuge? How can Katniss consider sending him back there. She would not.

And oh looky looky. Didn't take long for her to start abusing Peeta like his harpy of a mother. In fact, it's only a few days After a night of passion with a man who killed her sister and thinks that's ok and who also thinks only Peeta is standing in his way of getting with Katniss. Wow Katniss, on some level you are making the situation worse so you can quickly get back to low- morals Gale. Such a winner!

"She slaps his wrist to the table. "No. Pick up your fork, Peeta." Katniss reacts with lethal speed, sweeping his plate away from him, where it crashes to the floor, food flying. "No!" She's standing over him now, pinning both hands to the table, screaming right into his face. "No no no, you can't eat with your hands, do you hear me? You're not a child, you're not a goddamn infant." She wants to slap him until he listens. She wants to knock him out of his chair, grind his face into the ground, and make him pick up his fork. She wants to…"

Yup, just like his mother. This sounds slot like resentment form not being able to be with a real man, when this was all her choice and her decision. He didn't ask you to be his "savior" and clearly you're not.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For the brochure. For getting them to make an exception."

Yes, thank you for helping me get rid of this burden. I'll call you soon so we can start where we left off in the woods.

". . . So she hangs up sooner than she would have wanted to make sure to talk to Gale early, so he wouldn't worry later, if she didn't answer, on today of all days."

She's worried about Gale worrying on the anniversary of a bunch of deaths caused by a bomb he designed. What kind of codependent deferential twat is she? He was culpable in the death of her sister and so many others - designing a dirty bomb and it being used exactly as intended makes him culpable and she knows it - and she's worried about calling him so he won't worry? Is this a joke or something?

What's the moral center of this story? That designing double bombs to kill innocent people trying to do their jobs is appropriate? Is that the Damage of the title? It isn't about Peeta, after, since he appears in only 1/17tj of the story. So is it really Gale, redemption after war crimes? Trying to understand.

"asks if she can bring Peeta to visit. Just a visit, and then they'll see. She knows, somehow, that she has Gale to thank. He's marked this path for her, as he always did in the forest."

Lmao. How ironic he 'marked the path' to get Peeta the fuck out the way so he could have you aaaaalllll to himself. Since you told him Peeta was the only thing standing between himself and you of course he'd mark that path and keep marking it until he got you naked again. Dummy.

She never felt any kind of hunger kissing Gale but suddenly, after he designed a bomb that killed her sister and so many others, she feels great sexual attraction to him equal to what she had only experienced with Peeta before. Please.

We need more Peeta. 1/3 of a chapter and a short epilogue isn't enough Peeta. Please, can we see more.

I'm Surprised having the goons there didn't act a a trigger for at least some questions from Peetam about why "Mr. Hawthorne" is authorizing these overseers. Certainly triggers me.

"So many Capitol contractors saw him, this shocking apparition, there was absolutely media attention. "

Thought the Capitol had changed so much that it was a good enough place to dump Peeta back in? Oh that's right. Gale had the bright idea and it's up to men to make such decisions.

And here he is now, shadowing Peeta's and katniss' reunion, ready to jump in and do what? He has no business having his goons there - it's a flipping hospital with proper security! Isn't that why *he* recommended the damn thing place? That's an insult to both Peeta and Katniss. No wonder Peeta asked about being a man when gale is basically asserting and throwing around his supposed macho manliness here. Aren't they in the very place *he* recommended to "save " Peeta? Did he not think the place possible of helping Peeta recover enough to take a mere walk with Katniss? If not, why the hell did he give her that brochure?

This is a WONDERFULLY written story that is so good it's made me a little unhinged. I just hate manipulation and control and seems to me snail has too much of it in this entire situation.

Good question insidejokepartyof1. She was going too send him back to the capitol. Seriously?

"I thought you were gone. I thought you had left me with a stranger. And I didn't understand, where you were."
"I'm sorry." She knows now, why Gale can never stop saying it.

Well actually, Peeta, she was about to be gone; dump you with a bunch of strangers because her "best friend", who wanted to be her lover, had every reason to be rid of you, thought you were the only thing in the way, and apparently also the boss of her, told her to!

Katniss saying sorry to Peeta is nothing like Gale's apologies since Katniss is probably apologizing for her actions, after taking responsibility for them. Gale is apologizing for something that screwed up his chance to "have" Katniss. Big difference. But of course she's still deferential to manly Him.