Hello all! I'm back with the sequel to 'Silence'! I know it's taken me quite awhile, but it is summer. I usually do most of my typing during school, when I'm bored and with nothing better to do lol. So please, enjoy the first chapter of 'Bravery'.

Peeta's POV

When I hear the words, 'Victory Tour', I think of everything the capital has shown on TV. I think of the boy from District 8 that had won a few years ago, and how he wept tears of joy. I think of all the parties and laughs that the cameras seemed to zone in on. I saw all the pure happiness. Everything that the Capital wanted us to believe that the Victory Tour was.

But in all reality, it was hell.

The silence that the stylists that had been assigned to me is deafening, considering that I outlived the last person they tried to make beautiful. The girl from District 12. Cinna, the main stylist, sneered at disgust at me anytime I was around him. In the Districts we went Cato, Gale and I were all yelled and cursed at. Calling us killers and such horrible things that my heart broke for these people who truly must have had to gone through hell.

The worst was District 11. It was said that there was to be an uprising coming from that District and the President had asked us to stop it. The only thing was we couldn't really do anything. I killed the little girl and the towering guy. Sure, the girl was on accident. But she was still so young. So innocent...I didn't want to kill her, if I could go back and give her my spot in the Victory Tour, I would.

And the worst thing is the nightmares. The nights I'm screaming as Rue, Thresh, Glimmer, Foxface, Clove, and Marvel all torture me for not being able to protect them or for killing them. Or the nights where I'm running from the monster that Cato had described to me and it gets a hold of me only to dismember me before finally killing me. It's all so horrible, that I'm not sure how long I can take it.

What makes my ordeal even worse is the fact that I'm carrying all this without the man I love. Cato...he seems to have grown bored of me. He barely talks to me anymore, more like he just grunts and snorts, and he's never taken me on a real date. I'm starting to wonder if he's second guessing our relationship.

But Gale, he's been there ever since the Games ended. He has awakened me from every nightmare I've had, held me while I cried myself to sleep. He's whispered sweet words to my ear and it makes me want to desperately let Cato go and go to Gale. But I don't. Instead, I wait for Cato to break it off before going to Gale. I don't want to break Cato's heart; it'd be too much for me at the moment.

Currently, we're on our way back to the Capitol. I'm sure they'll be a big feast in our names, and there will be a lot of people congratulating us for winning. And that's the part that infuriates me the most. Winning...what did I win? My freedom? I'd happily go back to being a silent Avox now that I've been sent into the Arena and have dealt with all of the horrors.

The train is more lavish and luxurious then the ones I've seen for the Tributes before the Games. It's large with a seemingly endless amount of carts and all of the rooms have the softest beds, biggest TVs, and a full wardrobe. It was like living in a portable castle. The food was as good as it looked too, if not better. I try to focus on these small things, instead of the Games and the future. After all, the Games are the past. And the future is...well, the future. I can't control the past, since it's already happened and I can try to control the future. But sometimes I just need a break.

I'm laying in my bed right now, Gale in the chair next to the bed as he's watching over me. I know he's awake, and looking at me. And I know he knows that I know he's awake, yet he's not calling me out. I wonder why. He came in after hearing me having my last nightmare, and I can't help but shiver at the thought of it.

I'm running from something, what it is, I don't know. All I know is that if it catches me, I'm dead. As I run, I can make out the smell of an ocean nearby, and the trees are rushing past me in a blur. My eyes are blurred by the tears flooding in them. Tears of fear and confusion. What is going on?

And that's when I see it. A large tiger, an animal I've always have been scared of since seeing it in a book in school during 3rd grade, suddenly jumps in front of me. I scream as I slide from trying to stop to sudden. I crawl back as it stalks forward, grinning and showing all of its awful teeth. There is blood on its teeth, and for some reason I get the feeling that it's Cato's.

Tears gather even more in my eyes, and I scramble up and try to turn and run. However, all I end up doing is tripping over the overgrown root and falling down and hearing a crunch as my ankle breaks. I cry softly as I crawl forward, desperate for escape, and I'm suddenly in the tiger's shadow.

"You are so weak. Not able to do anything yourself. No wonder you were an Avox. Being as weak as you are should be a crime." I cry harder and shake my head as I try to crawl away even more now. From the words or the actual tiger, I'm not sure myself. I see the shadow raise its paw into the air, and close my eyes as I see the shadow's paw coming down...

I'm shocked out of remembering the dream as Gale's hand comes down on my shoulder and I let out a small cry as I fall from the bed and to Gale's feet.

"Peeta! Are you alright?" He asked worriedly as he bends down to check on me. I blush as I realize how close we are. I remember a time when I wished Cato was this close. But it seems like Cato didn't want to be this close anymore.

So then why wait for him? My mind reasoned. You are a good looking man. Cato isn't the only guy out there. If he wants to just ignore you, ignore him back. He can't expect you to wait forever. Have some fun, meet other guys, and forget about him.

The logic of my mind shocks me, and I can't help but agree with it. For so long, I have been beaten down. As an Avox, having to follow everyone's orders. In the Arena, the fear of knowing my life could be taken from me at any time should the Gamemakers or other tributes choose to do so. Why should I let the rest of my life be like that? Why should I let Cato do that? No, I'll forget about him and move on.

And Gale's the best way to do it.

With that in mind I find myself leaning forward, taking Gale's lips.

Gale's POV

When Peeta leaned in to kiss me, I was quite shocked.

I have dreamt about kissing him for so long, and I have tried many ways to get him to return the feelings that I feel for him. Could it be that he finally has? I've noticed that a rift between him and Cato has seemed to appear. Could this be my chance? Could this be my chance to, finally, make this golden beauty mine? Well, I'm sure as hell going to try.

With that in mind, I kiss him back. The kiss isn't soft and gentle like I imagined it. No, it was rough and...Promising. As if Peeta was trying to tell me something through it. But what? Shut up, and enjoy the kiss. My mind told me, and I immediately do as I think.

A few minutes later, we break the kiss. Peeta's cheeks are a beautiful shade of pink. His eyes look at me, not with love. But with something close to fondness. "I still love Cato, not you." He says, and his words feel like they cut me. I feel as if he just body slammed me into the ground and drove his hand through my heart. "But..." He continues. "Something's going on with Cato and me. I can't promise you that I'll ever love you. But I can promise you that I can try." He says this with a small smile, and pecks my cheek as he stands up. I let his words wash over me, and finally figure out that he's not rejecting me. He's promising me. That must be what he was trying to say through the kiss.

I see him walk to his closet and pick out some clothes and a towel. "I'm going to take a shower." He says right before he goes to his bathroom, which is connected to his room, and closes the door. I stand there for a little while longer, before smirking and standing. This is what I've been wanting. A chance to show Peeta that I can be better for him then Cato can ever be.

And I plan on taking that chance.

Cato's POV

I stand in the balcony outside of the train, watching the scenery as it goes by. So many thoughts have been going through my head. What were Peeta and I? Could we really even have a relationship together? He was flawless, I was flawed. I was hot headed, dangerous, and I like violence. He was sweet, calming, and angelic. He was the total opposite of me.

I guess you can say I'm punishing myself.

On screen, during the Games, I'm the heartless killer that would do anything to live. Off screen, I'm just a violent, hotheaded boy who has made many mistakes and many regrets. I remember going to District Twelve, all the cold looks both Peeta and I got from them. Katniss had been one of the main suppliers of their food, apparently. So of course they were going to be upset. But they should only be upset at me. Instead, it seemed like most of them blamed Peeta for even trying to kill her.

How was that fair?

They should be happy that he was alive! Even his family was cold to him when he tried to speak to them.

All he wanted was to live, just like anyone else. Needless to say, we left that District as early as we could.

My District was better. I could remember it perfectly...

We were standing in a line as the crowed of District Two citizens cheered around us. They threw roses and shouted praises at us, almost as if we had won the World Cup that used to be so famous. They smiled and loved us and of course, they loved me the most. They loved my will to survive, the ruthlessness I showed.

It was at the end of the makeshift walkway that I saw my family. My mom, so frail and delicate looking after being so sick for so long, was smiling and giving off that unearthly glow that mothers seemed to give off whenever they were proud of their kids. Dad stood by her, a hand on my mom's bulging stomach since she was expecting, a proud smile on his face as he stood tall and proud. And Raid, my 12 year old brother, stood beside all of them practically bouncing with excitement. Most people, knowing how I act, thought that I'd be annoyed at my younger brother whenever he wanted to hang out with me. But instead, I was welcoming. I loved him dearly, and I'd do anything for him.

I look over, and I notice that Peeta has a distant look on his face. A piece of his hair fell into his face, thanks to the wind, and I wanted to brush it out of place. Sadly, I had to restrain myself from doing so. I wouldn't allow myself to lead him on, even though I've already done that really. Instead, I just turn back, and wait for the Mayor to give his speech before I give mine...

I'm shocked out of the memory by the door behind me opening and closing. I look behind me, and see Peeta looking as handsome as ever. He has a plain dark green button down shirt that does wonders against his pale skin, and a pair of jeans that looked so tight that they should have been in Glimmer's closet. His blue eyes are looking at me with a look that I can't explain. I'm just about to ask him what's wrong, when he speaks.

"We need to talk."

Those words. Every time I've heard those words, nothing good has came after them. I look back at him and say, "And?"

He takes a deep breath before speaking. And it takes a minute for me to let the words register into my head. I feel my eyes widen, and I hear myself stammering. "W-what?"

"I want to break up."

So I promise you, this WILL end up being Cato/Peeta. But I have a few Gale/Peeta fans, and I want to give them a chance lol. And plus, this triangle is going to lead up to something even better. If I stay with the same plot line I think I'm going to do, then let's just say that a few things are going to leave you guys speechless.

Now, time for a quiz. In Silence, there are two things I left unresolved. Can one of you guys guess what both of them are? If you can, I will allow you to choose one event out of a list of events I will make.

Now, feel free to review and participate in this contest. Also, leave thanks to my awesome Beta!

Beta'd By: Through Darkness and Light

Beta Notes: And we have returned! There were a few bumps concerning FF dot net being picky about 'M' rated stories, but the decision was made to post anyway. Hurrah!