Peeta mentally went through his routine as he waited in the large room for his tribute. He had on a blue shirt and jeans; he looked better than the other Avox's but still looked below regular citizens of the capitol. The hotel room he was in was for the District 2 tributes, and he thought they were so lucky to get to use it simply because of its extravagance.
The living room, as was everything else, was extremely beautiful and expensive looking. Three couches were in the room. Of course, they were all empty right now since him and the lower Avox's weren't allowed to sit until their shift was over. Of course, he wasn't like the others though.
The others couldn't talk. The poison the Capitol injects into their, his, tongues is supposed to kill all the nerves in the tongue. Therefore, they couldn't speak and they really didn't need to. Their crimes sentenced them to a life of slavery, for lack of a better word. However, the poison didn't do that to him for some reason. He still had the ability to talk, although he knew it was best not to.
If he talked, he was more than likely going to be sentenced to a severe beating that would end up as his death. And he liked the thought of living, even if it was to serve other people and never talk. Of course, he kept this from everyone. Even the other Avox's. You never know when one might get mad and try to rat him out.
Of course, it was hard. Having the ability to talk and not get to use it. It made him…testy. But if he wanted to live, he had to suck it up and deal with it. His life had completely changed from when he lived a life of (semi) freedom. And the only way to live was to adjust to his present life, as all animals did when faced with the possible extinction. And that was basically what he was now. An animal for the Capitol to do with as they please.
Back to the room, in the middle there was a coffee table that was surrounded by a couch and two chairs on either side. A TV hung on the calming white walls, currently turned off. The dining room was equally as beautiful. Silverware was placed neatly and on the right of empty plates, and the chairs were spaced evenly apart. The mahogany table basically shinned with how clean it was and it was something that Peeta took great pride in. The lighting for both of the rooms was low, but would brighten when the two Tributes came in.
His partner, Emilia, was standing right beside him. She, unluckily, didn't have luck like he did and was mute for the rest of her life. Her brown hair was pulled up while his was slicked back, and she wore a beautiful, for an Avox, dress shirt and jeans. Her brown eyes were down casted, just like his, and were looking at the vacuumed floor.
Emalia would be in charge of the female Tribute. Peeta thought her name is Clove, or was it Clave? Something along those lines. He had heard that she was supposed to be a brutal, spoiled little girl who was excited for these Games. He also heard that his tribute was no better, actually worse.
When the door opened, Peeta stood straighter but kept his gaze on the floor. He could hear the sounds of laughing, and he shivered at the sound of it. It sounded evil, brutal. He wanted to run away just by the sound of it.
"I can't believe we Volunteered for a Quarter Quell! I so can't wait to win!" The girl Clove, said as she stepped into the suddenly bright room and Peeta looked up. She was a little on the short side, but Peeta could tell that she was one of the older tributes. Maybe seventeen or eighteen. Her dark brown hair was down, falling down into her face. She wore an elegant gold dress that went all the way to the floor. She had a gold helmet with wings on the side held closely to her side. Her green eyes looked cold and merciless and Peeta thought that she reminded him of a tiger in that outfit.
And then his Tribute stepped in. And he immediately knew that the other probably already had Sponsors lined up to sponsor him. He had a very muscular build and he would be surprised if any of the other Tributes were as strong looking as him. He had on a gold toga like his female counterpart. He had his helmet still on, the wings spreading outward.
"Who said you'd win?" His Tribute said as he crossed his arms and looked at Clove, who just rolled her eyes and changed the subject.
"Are…these are personal Avox's?" Clove said, and Peeta just about talked back to her with the tone she used. She acted like they were disgusting animals.
Well, he thought silently, we can't all be pampered for competing in a Game where you are going to be turned into a monster. That is, if you survive. Which I hope you don't.
Peeta felt guilty immediately after thinking that. Of course, they didn't come here on their own free will. They were forced to come here. The Capitol was forcing them to abandon their human state of mind and become…monsters.
"The boy is yours, Cato." Their escort said. Michaela Mayson was a…distinctive woman. She is beyond preppy, and could be snobby when she wanted to be. She also had a habit of being annul about manners, like all the other escorts.
Peeta saw his Tribute, Cato's, eyes sweep over him, and he unconsciously shifted a little. His eyes went down, remembering that he was not allowed to make eye contact with his…master. That's what Cato was, rather he like it or not. He might as well admit it.
"Well…he's not completely hideous." He said as he finally got done examining his Avox.
Actually, the truth was that he found the Avox…hot. He had blonde eyes that had a somewhat innocent light to them, but not sickly innocent. He also had pale skin that shone in the bright lighting. His blonde hair was clean and shinny and was smoothed back. The boy looked…cute.
But, like most from his District, he wouldn't admit it. Instead, he'd try to break the Avox down and build him up to the way he liked them. Beautiful and flawless. The boy might only be an Avox, but he didn't accept anything except perfect. As he walked towards his room, Cato heard his Avox move silently behind him. He didn't acknowledge the boy in any way. That would be disgraceful to both him and his District. However, this boy seemed different. The look in his eyes… All the other Avox's eyes look as if they have given up. This one, in contrast, looks like he has a hell of a lot more fight left in him.
Well then, he thought, I'll just have to help…tame it.
And he'd be happy to do so. When they got to his room, he smiled as he saw the fanciness of it. Green walls, but not sickly green. No, it was a calming, forest green. White carpet that felt wonderful when one took their shoes off. The bed looked big and spacious, not to mention incredibly soft. Just the way he liked it. There was a small desk in the corner of the room with a lamp on it, along with a stack of notebooks that he recalled as past Tribute's journals. Tributes were allowed to take journals into the Arena, as long as there wasn't anything used as a weapon in it. This usually meant no pens. However, pens were in just about every pack at the Cornucopia. This was meant for the Tributes to learn how to survive, and therefore make the Games last longer and the Capitol to have their fun longer. However, Cato didn't really expect to let that happen. He wanted this done accurately and quick.
With his mind on the Games, he sighed as he thought about the little time he had to prepare. Of course, he's been preparing all his life. However, that didn't mean it wouldn't be smart to see what the others could do and improve on some things.
He flopped down on the soft bed and said, "Get me that stack of journals."
He smirked as he saw the Avox go off mutely, and could feel the other's anger slowly building. It was only a few feet away, and he probably didn't even need to get up from the bed to reach it. But none the less, he went over and got them before giving them to Cato.
For the next few hours, Cato started reading the journals. Time and time again he saw people saying how much they regretted not taking the survival task during training. He immediately decided that he'd focus on the survival stuff first, and then practice with his sword. It didn't matter if the other Tributes saw him or not, they'd die either way.
"Cato, dinner is ready." Michaela said and Peeta noticed that she had changed. Before, she also wore a beautiful gold dress along with tons of earrings. Now, however, she wore a bright green that was sickening and had tons of necklaces and a pair of glasses. Peeta guessed that she was trying to look intelligent and important, but instead she looked ugly and preppy.
"Hurry the hell up, puppy." Cato said and Peeta couldn't stop the scowl that crossed over his features at Cato's nickname for him. He sighed as he followed Cato, having a feeling that things weren't going to be easy with Cato.
No truer words have ever been said.
Beta'd by: Through Darkness and Light
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