Peeta Mellark

* 74 ATT
* 75 ATT

"*I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not. I keep wishing I could think of a way to...to show the Capitol that they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their Games.*"
―Peeta to Katniss
Peeta Mellark, a baker's son from District 12, was reaped alongside Katniss Everdeen for the 74th Hunger Games. He and Katniss were portrayed as star-crossed lovers in the arena in order to garner sponsors and manage to both become victors by putting the Gamemakers in a difficult situation by threatening a double suicide. Although his feelings were genuine, he was hurt to discover that Katniss' were not at the time. He and Katniss became friends despite the fact that they were forced to use their fake romance to both placate and subvert the Capitol during their Victory Tour and the 75th Hunger Games. At the end of the 75th Games, Peeta was captured by the Capitol and hijacked to believe that Katniss was an evil muttation. He managed to fall in love with her all over again during the end of the war and the years afterward. Eventually, Katniss realized that she was also in love with him, and they had two children.

## Biography

### Early life

Although he grew up in the merchant area of District 12, Peeta's childhood was less than desirable, as his family life was difficult. His father was kind, but his mother was known to beat Peeta and his two brothers if they made a mistake. For example, she hit Peeta for burning bread.

Ever since he was five years old, Peeta had a huge crush on Katniss Everdeen. On the first day of school, Peeta's father pointed her out, saying that he wanted to marry her mother but ultimately didn't as she married a coal miner. Peeta was confused as to why someone would marry a coal miner instead of his father, but Mr. Mellark explained that when Mr. Everdeen sang, the birds stopped to listen. Later, Katniss sang for their music class, and Peeta realized he was in love with her when he saw that the birds were listening like they did for her father. He often watched her, but the two never spoke until the reaping.

### 74th Hunger Games

Peeta was selected as the male tribute from District 12 in the 74th Hunger Games. Katniss recognized him instantly, knowing that he was the boy who, five years prior, purposely burned bread and gave it to her to save her family and herself from starvation - an act that gave her the hope and courage to feed her family. His mother gave him a black eye for being so clumsy.

Once he was reaped, he went to the Justice Building where his family and Delly Cartwright came to visit him. His father was distraught, whereas his mother said that perhaps District 12 will have a victor: Katniss, indicating she had no expectations to ever see Peeta again.

Peeta and Katniss left the district on the train to the Capitol, escorted by well-known fashionista and socialite, Effie Trinket. On the first night on the train, Peeta was irritated by the District 12 mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, because of his alcoholism and his obvious lack of interest in helping the tributes survive. When Haymitch told them, "Here's some advice: Stay alive." Peeta broke his wine glass and received a punch in the jaw as a result. Katniss then jammed a knife in between Haymitch's hand and his wine bottle. Haymitch was impressed by their potential and decided that as long as they didn't interfere with his drinking, he would stay sober enough to help them.

When Peeta arrived in the Capitol, he was fixed up by his prep team, led by his stylist, Portia. For the Parade, he and Katniss were dressed in black unitards with synthetic fire to represent burning coal. The Capitol received them more positively than any of the other district tributes during the Opening Ceremonies, where they were instructed to hold hands.

During the training process, Haymitch instructed Katniss and Peeta to stay together every step and process of the way, though they protested due to their tendency to argue and anger each other. Peeta excelled at keeping up the appearance that they are friends, easing Katniss into conversation, and responding to what she's saying at all the right times. He received a training score of 8 after his private session with the Gamemakers, saying that he threw some weights around because the Gamemakers were clearly not interested in him.

Despite having agreed to train alongside Katniss at the beginning, Peeta decided to prepare for his interview separately. During his interview with Caesar Flickerman, he revealed he was in love with Katniss, much to her surprise. This confession began the idea that the two were the "star-crossed lovers from District 12," which Haymitch believed would help them get sponsors.

The night before the Games, Peeta and Katniss talked on the rooftop about the horrors that awaited them in the arena. Peeta admitted that he didn't believe he was ever a contender in the games; he merely wanted to die as himself and show the Capitol that he was "more than just a piece in their games." Katniss found herself frustrated by his pessimistic outlook, thinking it foolish of him to have given up already.

At the beginning of the games, it was Peeta who distracted Katniss when she looked ready to run into the bloodbath in order to grab the silver bow and arrows she spied on top of a mound of blanket rolls. He surprisingly made an agreement to team up with the Careers the morning of the Games. He only did this in order to protect Katniss. When an argument broke out about the dying tribute from District 8 and whether or not the pack should go back to kill her, Peeta said they were wasting time and reluctantly finished her off himself in order to gain trust.

After the firestorm, none of the Careers died, but they were injured and much slower than before. They found Katniss and chased her up a tree, with Peeta suggesting that they make camp under it, as none of them were able to climb after her. He stayed up the whole night under the tree as part of his devotion to Katniss to make sure nobody tried to kill her. In the morning, they woke up to a tracker jacker attack after Katniss dropped a nest on them. The Careers, minus Glimmer and the female tribute from District 4, who died from their stings, retreated to the lake. Peeta found Katniss at the scene of the attack as she removed the bow and arrows from Glimmer's body, and he urged her to run due to Cato's impending attempt to kill her. Cato witnessed this exchange and cut Peeta in his upper thigh for his actions, severely wounding him. Peeta barely escaped and Cato considered chasing him down but realized that it would be more satisfying to him if Peeta died a long and painful death. Cato was confident enough in the wound that he and the other Careers didn't bother hunting Peeta down.

Peeta used mud and dirt to camouflage himself by a stream, where Katniss found him after Claudius Templesmith announced the new rule: If the last two tributes standing were from the same district, they both could win. She nursed him back to health as best she could, but he suffers from blood poisoning, which she couldn't cure without the right medicine. During this time, Peeta played up the star-crossed lovers angle and Katniss responded as best as she could, which resulted in sponsor gifts of food.

Despite Peeta's pleas for Katniss to stay with him, she went to the Gamemaker's feast in order to get medicine to save him. She did this by drugging him. Peeta woke up, recovered from the infected wound, and found Katniss bleeding next to him. He treated her wound, and she woke up later. They stayed in their cave during a thunderstorm, during which Thresh died at the hands of Cato as revenge for Clove's death. Peeta used the time to further promote their star-crossed lovers act, and the two shared a passionate kiss. After the storm ended, the pair headed out to hunt for food, but Katniss was frustrated by the noise that Peeta, who wasn't used to hunting, made. They decided to split up, with Katniss teaching Peeta a two-note whistle to signify to each other that they were safe. When Katniss didn't hear Peeta whistle after an extended period of time, she became frightened and, upon finding him, chastised him for worrying her. She noticed that their collection of food, which contained deadly nightlock berries that Peeta unknowingly picked out, was missing a portion, and was irritated with him for having eaten without her, but he denies doing so. A cannon sounds and they saw Foxface's emaciated body being picked up by a hovercraft; she stole and ate the deadly berries, which almost instantly killed her.

With only three of them left in the Arena, the Gamemakers drained all sources of water except for the lake, forcing Katniss and Peeta to confront Cato and end the Games one way or another. They noticed at the Cornucopia that Cato was covered in full-body armor, which he received from his district pack, that protected him from Katniss' arrows. The three of them were attacked by wolf muttations that the Gamemakers unleashed, with Katniss noticing that they all resembled the deceased tributes. They climbed onto the roof of the Cornucopia for safety, and in the process Peeta's calf was bitten by one of the mutts, opening up a large wound. Katniss had to use her last arrow in a tourniquet to stop Peeta from dying from blood loss. Once recovered from running for so long, Cato caught Peeta in a headlock to cut off his air, possibly hoping to choke him to death and use his body as a weapon against Katniss, ensuring both of their deaths, and Cato's victory.

However, this didn't happen. Knowing that to shoot him in the head would mean both his and Peeta's deaths, Katniss did not know what to do until Peeta shakily drew an "X" in blood on the back of Cato's hand, signaling for Katniss to shoot him there, which she did. Cato reflexively let go of Peeta, and Peeta shoved him over the edge. Cato fell to the mutts and later returned bloody and mangled, begging for Katniss to perform a mercy kill. Pitying him, despite his ruthless nature, she shot him in the head.

When Cato's body was removed and the muttations retreated, Katniss and Peeta believed that they had won the Games, but Claudius Templesmith then announced that the previous rule change had been revoked and only one tribute could win. Peeta told Katniss to kill him, but not wanting to go home without him, Katniss refused and pushed the bow and arrows into his hands.

Realizing that the Capitol would rather have two victors than none, Katniss and Peeta decided to commit suicide with the remaining nightlock. Right before they consumed the berries, Claudius Templesmith begged them to stop and announced that they both won the Games. At their final interview with Caesar Flickerman, the pair once again projected their mad love for each other, with Katniss only doing so because she knew that President Snow was livid at the unusual events that turned the Capitol into a laughingstock and, more importantly, sparked something dangerous in the districts. Peeta, however, was genuinely in love with her, as was revealed on their train ride home, when Katniss admitted that she has been partially faking her feelings for him, leaving him heartbroken and cold towards her.

### Aftermath

After the camera crews finally left District 12, Katniss and Peeta had a falling out due to the ambiguity of her feelings for him. They spent the next six months basically ignoring each other. Although still heartbroken from learning that Katniss didn't reciprocate his feelings, Peeta didn't abandon their image of star-crossed lovers and still "performed" well in front of the camera, playing his role of a boy lost in love. He and Katniss went on the Victory Tour, which began in District 11. On the train there, when Katniss lost her temper with Effie, Peeta calmed her down and suggested that they made a genuine attempt at being friends despite all that has happened between them. At night on the train, Katniss often woke up screaming from nightmares. To comfort her, Peeta held her while she slept; this became a nightly routine.

When they arrived at District 11, Peeta made a speech in which he offered to give Thresh and Rue's families a month's portion of his earnings each year - something that has never been done before, possibly due to it being against the rules. After Katniss made a rousing speech about Rue, a man whistled Rue's four-note tune and the entire audience showed their support for Katniss by placing their middle three fingers on their lips and holding them out to her, which was considered a sign of respect and a sign of thanks. As Peeta and Katniss went into the District 11 Justice Building, they saw the man who whistled as he was executed by a gunshot to the head. Peeta was shocked, forcing Katniss and Haymitch to explain that Snow did not believe their act of love and that they have been trying to downplay any signs of rebellion on the Tour. Angry that he had been left out and not knowing how risky his kind gesture to Thresh and Rue's family was, Peeta lashed out until Katniss comforted him.

During an interview with Caesar Flickerman, Peeta proposed to Katniss in an attempt to convince President Snow of their love. Katniss, however, was given a subtle gesture from Snow that told her that this was not good enough to contain the fire that she had ignited. She suggested that they run away together, bringing Gale and her family along with them. This plan was abandoned when Gale was caught hunting and the new Head Peacekeeper, Romulus Thread, publicly whipped him, with Katniss realizing that she had to stay in the district in order to protect her family.

### 75th Hunger Games

When it came time for the 75th Hunger Games, or the third Quarter Quell, President Snow announced that the criteria for this Quarter Quell was that the tributes would be chosen from the pool of existing victors. With District 12 having only three living victors (Peeta, Katniss, and Haymitch), it was clear that Katniss would go back into the arena, with Peeta determined to volunteer should Haymitch be picked in order to protect her. When he found Katniss and Haymitch hungover the morning after the announcement, Peeta was infuriated and ridded Haymitch and Katniss of any access to alcohol so that the three of them could train as vigorously as Career tributes.

At the Reaping, Katniss was obviously drawn as the female tribute, and Haymitch was drawn as the male tribute; as precedented, Peeta immediately volunteered to take his place. They took the train to the Capitol, and when they both couldn't sleep, they decided to watch the video of the 50th Hunger Games, or the second Quarter Quell - the Games that produced Haymitch Abernathy as victor. They learned of Haymitch's ingenious strategy in which he used the force field around the arena as a tool during his final battle, a plan that amused Katniss, who believed that it was almost as bad as her pulling out the berries due to the fact that the Capitol had not intended for anyone to recognize or use the force field.

Once they arrived in the Capitol, Peeta and Katniss were once again dressed in fiery costumes for the Opening Ceremonies, where they were instructed by their stylists, Portia and Cinna, to look stoic and "unforgiving." The crowd was extremely sympathetic to their love, for it seemed that things would never go right for the star-crossed lovers of District 12. Before training, Haymitch suggested they make friends, as the fellow tributes had known each other for years and already had strong friendships, therefore making Peeta and Katniss their prime targets. Peeta fared better in this area than Katniss, but ultimately neither of them wanted the other tributes as their allies except for each other.

When it came time for their private training sessions, Peeta and Katniss both shocked the Gamemakers without having planned it: Peeta painted a picture of Rue when Katniss decorated her dead body with daisies, and Katniss hanged a dummy on which she writes "Seneca Crane." To single them out and make the other tributes want to fight against them, the Gamemakers gave them both scores of 12. In his interview with Caesar Flickerman, Peeta astonished the audience with his false revelation that he and Katniss were already married, and that Katniss was pregnant, successfully inciting the Capitol's sympathy.

The Quell ended up being set in jungle terrain with seawater surrounding the Cornucopia. Each tribute was placed on a flotation device in the water. Because Peeta couldn't swim, Finnick Odair from District 4, whom Katniss teamed up with only when she saw that he was wearing a bracelet Haymitch gave him, retrieved him and Mags from their devices. The four of them teamed up, collected weapons from the Cornucopia, and left before the Career pack finished gathering weapons. They walked throughout the day, knowing they needed to set up camp and find drinkable water. Katniss was still doubtful about trusting Finnick when suddenly, Peeta unknowingly walked into a forcefield that surrounded the arena and fell unconscious because his heart had stopped. Katniss was in hysterics and believed that Finnick, who pushed her away from Peeta's body, was trying to hurt Peeta, until she realized that Finnick was performing CPR and managed to revive him.

Weak, but willing to move, the alliance moved slowly until they decided to set up camp, knowing they must find safe water. They received a spile from sponsors, which allowed them to tap trees and collect water from inside them. Katniss kept watch the first night until she alerted the other three of a rapidly approaching poisonous fog, which caused severe blistering and paralysis. Peeta, due to his earlier accident and his artificial leg, had difficulty keeping up, forcing Finnick to carry him on his back and Katniss to carry Mags. Eventually exhausted and affected by the fog, Katniss could no longer keep Mags on her back and asked if Finnick could, but he was too winded to do so. Mags then planted a kiss on Finnick's lips and walked straight into the mist, allowing them to continue on by sacrificing herself. The fog stopped chasing them when they reached the water, which they used to recover from the poison.

Peeta tapped a tree for water, but as he did so, Katniss and Finnick spotted monkey muttations in the trees. Trying to calmly get him to back away from the tree, Katniss asked him to "look at something," but Peeta instinctively glanced up and sets the monkeys off. The three of them formed a triangular shape and fended off the monkeys, but when Katniss ran out of arrows, she asked Peeta to release the sheath that she gave him, giving a monkey time to nearly sink its claws into Peeta's chest; he was spared as Coge Magorian from District 6 suddenly jumped in the way and was killed by the mutt. The monkeys retreated, and Peeta stayed by the Coge's side, telling her about his paintings and colors, to soothe her into death.

Once they recovered from the monkey attack, they travelled through the arena until they ran into Johanna Mason, Wiress, and Beetee, who they added to their alliance. The groups pooled their resources and experienced conflict when it was clear that Johanna and Katniss loathed each other, but they kept vigilance of their surroundings, especially for the Career tributes. Wiress kept muttering, "Tick, tock," until Katniss discovered what it meant: the arena structure was virtually similar to a clock. Peeta drew a map of the arena on a leaf, marking the sections where they knew what particular dangers existed at varying times. Wiress then served as the group's "canary," singing a song that would only stop if she detected danger. When Katniss no longer heard the song, she turned around to find that Gloss has slit Wiress' throat and reflexively shoot him. Johanna then dug her axe into Cashmere's chest. When three cannons went off, the group tried to attack Enobaria and Brutus, but they marginally managed to escape.

On the second night, the alliance discussed Beetee's plan to wipe out the remaining Careers by electrocution, using his wire and coil, the lightning bolt that strikes the tree at midnight, and the beach. On the third day, Katniss pretended to teach Peeta how to swim in order to talk to him alone. She suggested that they break off their alliance, but Peeta told her to wait. Meanwhile, he used this opportunity to give her a pearl and a locket with a picture of her family on one side and Gale on the other, trying to convince her not to sacrifice her life for him, as he realized that she and Haymitch wanted to keep him alive. He insisted that he would have nothing to live for if Katniss died, but that she could still start a family with Gale. He told her that his family didn't need him. Katniss protested, saying that she needed him. Katniss then kissed him and at that point, he realized that it wasn't just for the cameras and that she actually meant it.

### Captured

That night, they decided to commence Beetee's plan, with Katniss and Johanna reluctantly teaming up and setting the wire in place, while Peeta, Finnick, and Beetee fulfilled the rest of the plan. Peeta didn't want to separate from Katniss, but she kissed him and told him that it was necessary and that she'd "see [him] at midnight." When Finnick and Beetee began their real plan to save Katniss, Peeta was confused and went out to find her. In his search, Peeta killed Brutus in a fit of rage after Brutus killed Chaff, Haymitch's friend from District 11. Katniss was ensnared and unconscious. As Johanna fled after jabbing something sharp into Katniss' arm, Katniss believed that Johanna had betrayed her and that it was too late to escape with Peeta. In truth, Katniss then remembered Haymitch's advice to her - "remember the enemy" - and she shot an arrow at the forcefield, destroying it. The Capitol arrived to capture the remaining six tributes, but Katniss, Finnick, and Beetee were rescued by the rebellion to go to District 13, (which was told by the Capitol that it was destroyed, and it no longer existed). Peeta was among those captured by the Capitol (along with Enobaria and Johanna), where he was tortured for information he didn't have.

Katniss was informed of the prior plans that Beetee, Finnick, Johanna, a few other tributes, Plutarch Heavensbee, and even Haymitch were involved in. Katniss, furious over the plan and the failed rescue of Peeta, lashed out at Haymitch, using her nails to create a long scratch down his face. Peeta was held captive by President Snow and used against Katniss. During his captivity, he was tortured and beaten. The main reason for his torture was how it would unsettle Katniss and, by extension, hinder the rebellion. Peeta first appeared publicly in an interview with Caesar Flickerman, where he explained what happened in the Quarter Quell arena before the force field blew up and aggressively defended Katniss' innocence. Peeta finished the interview by stating that a cease-fire was the best option for the rebels, otherwise, human life may cease to exist. Katniss noted he appears healthy.

Peeta's interview was met with rage towards him from citizens of District 13. Katniss also decided to be the rebels' Mockingjay, on the condition that once Peeta, Johanna, Annie and Enobaria were rescued, they must not be held liable for any mistakes they have made (Katniss knew they probably won't keep this condition, so she made President Coin announce it in public).

After more propos began airing from the rebels, Peeta appeared in another interview, fifteen pounds thinner and completely ill in appearance. Katniss was initially baffled by how much Peeta has changed until she realized there were no indications in the previous interview of when it was actually filmed and could have been taped weeks ago. He and Caesar exchanged empty comments and Caesar asked for his view of the rumors that Katniss was shooting a propo. Peeta stated that Katniss shouldn't trust anyone and that they were using her. In his last comment of the interview, he suggested that Katniss should find out what the rebels are really planning.

Peeta is interviewed by Caesar for the third time. He implies that District 13 will be bombed after saying, "And you...in Thirteen...dead by morning!" As Beetee fights for reception with the Capitol, Peeta is seen being beaten and his blood splatters across the screen. After the bombing and much thinking, Katniss has a breakdown in the middle of shooting a propo. She knows the Capitol is using Peeta, torturing him to try to break her, so she will stop the rebellion and let the Capitol regain power. Katniss can't stand this and breaks down when she's asked to film, as does Finnick.

### Rescue

After witnessing both Finnick's, and Katniss' breakdowns, a rescue mission was staged. After distracting the Capitol with live propaganda, Peeta and the other captors were rescued. Katniss rushed to his side and was stunned when he attempted to strangle her. It was revealed that he was "hijacked", and Peeta's memories of Katniss were severely distorted in frightening, life-threatening ways; consequently, he became very hysterical and unstable. He believed that Katniss was a mutt designed by the Capitol intent on destroying him, who tried to kill him before and succeeded in killing all of his friends and family. Peeta believed that Katniss was responsible for the destruction of District 12 and the lives of its residents. He lashed out in uncharacteristic fits of rage, retreated into his own head, temporarily lost the power of speech, couldn't differentiate between what was an illusion and what was reality, and at one point argued with himself in a fit of madness as if he was two different people. He was only allowed to be treated by people he never knew before as not to trigger anything harmful. Delly Cartwright was the only one able to make contact with him in the beginning, as they shared old childhood memories. He shouted that the destruction of District 12 was Katniss' fault and called her a mutt. Peeta said he remembered Mr. Everdeen singing "The Hanging Tree" when he came to the bakery when Peeta was little. After that episode, Katniss began to avoid Peeta and blamed him for all of her problems, until Haymitch told Katniss that if she were hijacked, Peeta would be doing all he could to save her. This caused her to realize that she had been pushing him away, and she felt guilty.

After Katniss was shot in District 2, she noticed that Peeta had improved slightly, even being able to frost Annie and Finnick Odair's wedding cake. Haymitch stated that he had certain episodes, sometimes becoming rabid, or acting like two different people. Peeta could only sleep if he was in shackles. However, he was able to have a full conversation with Haymitch and he asked if he could speak with Katniss. Katniss ended the conversation quickly and tried to leave, but Peeta stopped her by saying he remembered the bread he gave her so she and her family wouldn't starve. Later, he showed up unannounced to Katniss, Gale, Beetee, Delly, Johanna, Annie, and Finnick, and sat next to Johanna. Peeta told Finnick to take care of Annie. Peeta and Katniss continued to be harsh to one another until Johanna pointed out that he was not the same person anymore.

### Endgame

Later, Peeta was sent by President Coin to join Squad 451, containing Katniss, Gale, and Finnick. He was watched over 24/7 and denied the nightlock pill, which would deliver an unpainful death when taken. To help him cope with his confusion between memories that were real and memories that were hijacked, the team devised a game to play with him called "Real or Not Real?" At one point during a fight with enemies, he snapped due to his conflicting memories and almost killed Katniss before he was tackled to the floor by Mitchell. This caused him to panic, and he kicked Mitchell into a pod that when it set off, released a net of barbed wire. He felt deep remorse about it later and insisted that they left him to the Capitol. Peeta was so saddened by killing Mitchell that he pleaded for death. He asked for a nightlock pill, but Katniss refused. The squad travelled underground, and for a moment Peeta seemed to be himself. During the night, Katniss was able to have a civil conversation with him. Peeta asked if she was trying to protect him, and she tells him she was still trying to protect him as he was still trying to protect her. The squad was later attacked by lizard mutts that hissed Katniss' name. When Katniss tried to take the handcuffs off of Peeta, he resisted and explained that they help him gain a grip on reality by pressing the sharp edges of the cuffs against his wrists. When they were underground, Peeta huddled himself together. He was frightened of everything that he knew, thought, felt, and acted. Katniss finally got him to keep going by kissing him, reminding him of memories of times when he loved her, and he relaxed. They later went undercover into crowds of evacuating people, splitting up. Katniss and Peeta said their goodbyes. He went in first with the nightlock pill that was given to him by Gale.

On the day of President Snow's execution, Katniss killed President Coin with the arrow that was meant for Snow. Katniss tried to commit suicide by swallowing her nightlock pill when the guards came for her, but Peeta stopped her by grabbing her wrists, preventing her from swallowing them. When Katniss told him to let go of her, Peeta said he couldn't. He implied later that he too went mad after Coin's death and that Aurelius, Katniss' psychiatrist, was treating him as well. A few months later, he returned to District 12, having largely recovered from his brainwashing, where he planted several evening primroses along the house in honor of Katniss' dead sister, Prim. He and Haymitch joined Katniss when she decided to write a book about their experiences during the Hunger Games, along with things she was unwilling to forget. Peeta drew the victims if they weren't able to find pictures of them. He still had some "episodes" where the hijacking would try to take over again. He clenched onto the back of a chair until it passed. Otherwise, he displayed signs that he had returned to his normal self. Katniss and Peeta slowly found each other again. He comforted her when she had nightmares. Soon, they began to embrace and kiss again. Katniss believed that she had finally found the once-lost feeling Peeta stirred inside of her, that she needed Peeta to survive because he symbolized hope and rebirth rather than destruction, like Gale did. They played the game of "Real or Not Real?" one last time. Peeta asked, "You love me, real or not real?" Katniss answered, "Real."

### Adult life

The pair were still together and had two children. Peeta never lost his grip on reality again, but still experienced flashbacks from the hijacking. He had to hold onto something until it passed. Though it took fifteen years of convincing from Peeta, they had a son with Peeta's blond hair and Katniss' gray eyes, and a daughter with Katniss' dark hair and Peeta's blue eyes. Katniss felt hesitant to tell her children about the Games, but Peeta assured her that it would be okay because they had each other. So, one day, they tell their children of the Hunger Games, share the memory book Haymitch, Peeta, and Katniss compiled together, explained Katniss' hysterical episodes during the night, and informed them of the graveyard they happily play above every day, now a meadow. The graveyard was the burial site for the deceased residents of District 12.

## Appearance

Peeta had ashy blonde hair that fell in waves over his forehead, blue eyes, pale skin, and a stocky build. Even with a stocky build, Peeta was fairly small for a male, especially when compared to the male tributes of his first Games. As his family owned the bakery, Peeta was one of the best-fed people in the district, though he did go hungry at times like everyone else. Multiple people described him as handsome, though Katniss normally called him 'beautiful' and notes his long eyelashes.

In the 74th Hunger Games, a mutt mauled Peeta's calf. Katniss made a tourniquet to staunch the blood flow, and this saved Peeta's life, but he ended up having his leg amputated below the knee. In Mockingjay, following his capture by the Capitol, Katniss described his mental and physical condition as slowly deteriorating because of the torture and interrogation methods used on him.

## Personality

"*Known for being nice.*"
―Katniss, on Peeta
Peeta had a very likable personality and was very charismatic. Kind and gentle, he was also very clever and skilled at manipulating others with his words. Though not brash or arrogant, he could be quite bold, having announced that he was in love with Katniss to the whole nation and offering Thresh and Rue's families part of his and Katniss' winnings. He was a very talented public speaker to the point that Coin once wished she rescued him over Katniss from the Quell. Similarly, he had a good sense of humor and didn't take himself too seriously.

Possibly unique in Hunger Games Victors, Peeta was very reluctant to get into physical fights and was very non-violent, to the point that Finnick said he was the only Victor who won the Games 'by chance'. He stated that he wanted to be "more than just a piece in [the] Games", and more than the killer the Capitol would want him, a Tribute, to be. However, when very angry, Peeta was known to throw objects against walls and shout, so he was not without a temper. He was gentle, but not a pushover, as seen when he broke Haymitch's wine glass after Haymitch sarcastically told him to "stay alive" in the Games.

Most notably, Peeta was loving and cared deeply about the people around him. He was described as sweet, gentle, strong, and steady by Katniss several times, and always assumed the best in people, which baffled Katniss who was, by contrast, very skeptical and slow to trust. He was selfless (for his willingness to sacrifice his own life for Katniss'), had a good sense of humor that he used during tough times, and always knew exactly what to say to make someone feel better. He was able to work with Haymitch on goals and strategy and, unlike Katniss, able to keep secrets and was trusted by Haymitch. He had deep understanding of situations such as the Hunger Games when he said, "I don't want to be just a piece in their Games." It took Katniss much longer for her to understand the same concept.

He always double-knotted his shoelaces, slept with the windows open, and he never took sugar in his tea.

When he was hijacked, he became out-of-control, homicidal, and suicidal. Eventually, through separating "shiny" hijacked memories and real ones, he recovered, though still had flashbacks and trauma.

## Abilities

"*He frosted under heavy guard.*"
―Haymitch, on Peeta
* Physical strength
* Charming charisma
* Camouflage
* Baking
* Painting

## Victims

In the 74th Games, when Peeta was grouped with the Careers, they discovered the District 8 female and killed her. Moments later, when they didn't hear the cannon signaling her death, an argument broke out among the Careers and Peeta said that he would go back and check if she is dead. When Peeta rejoined the Careers, they ask him if the girl is dead, to which he responded, "She is now," and a cannon went off. Later, as an ally to Katniss, he accidentally and indirectly killed Foxface when she ate some of the nightlock berries he had been collecting, thinking they were edible.

He also killed Brutus during the Quarter Quell Games after Brutus killed Chaff, right before Katniss shot out the force field. During the battle of the Capitol, Peeta, in one of his rages due to his hijacking, killed Mitchell by unintentionally kicking him into a pod that released net of barbed wire.

## Relationships

* Haymitch Abernathy (mentor, neighbour)
* Finnick Odair, Wiress, Mags (allies)
* Katniss Everdeen (wife, lover, co-tribute, saviour, friend, ally, neighbour)
* Primrose Everdeen, Mrs. Everdeen (neighbour)
* Coriolanus Snow (enemy)
* Beetee Latier, Johanna Mason (allies, friends)
* Effie Trinket (escort)
* Cato, Clove, Glimmer, Marvel (opponents)
* Annie Cresta (friend)
* Portia (stylist)
* Delly Cartwright (friend)
* Enobaria, Brutus, Gloss, Cashmere (opponents)
* Mr. Mellark, Mrs. Mellark (parents)
* First Mellark son, second Mellark son (brothers)

## Trivia

* Peeta is named after pita, a type of bread.
* Katniss and Peeta were the only victors to ever participate in the Games two years in a row.
* When hunting, Peeta was very loud compared to Katniss and Gale, who were seasoned hunters and skilled at moving quietly.
* Peeta's favorite color was orange, like a sunset.
* Peeta's favorite candy was peppermints.
* Peeta officially committed the last ever kill in the Games (Brutus).