A/N: Hello everyone! I thought I'd give a Cato/Katniss fic another shot and see how it goes. It will be made into several parts, all of which are memories of Katniss' told through her perspective. There will be Everlark in them as well, but this is mostly my take on what could have happened. All rights to Suzanne Collins, and May the odds be ever in your favor

PART ONE: PRE-GAMES

An 11; I couldn't believe it. I was sure after I shot the apple at the Game Makers I would be given the first 1 in Hunger Games history. But, I was proven wrong and everyone around me saw a cause to celebrate the "Girl on Fire". I, however, didn't feel the need for celebration. After tomorrow, I would be put into the arena for a fight to the death, and that didn't seem celebration worthy at all.

So I went up to the roof top, watching the Capitolites below me celebrating the arrival and scores of all the tributes; placing bets, celebrating in the streets, unknowing of the savageness of their behavior. Looking to the sky, I couldn't help but wonder if Gale was also staring into the stars, hoping that he could somehow come to terms with my "deployment." I sighed, knowing that Gale would be more worried about his family, and taking care of Prim and my mother until my untimely demise or my safe return back to District Twelve. I looked around the roof top, noticing the beautiful flowers and greenery, and wondered who took care of all the plants. Beautiful lilies, hostas, petunias, palms, roses— Roses, like my Prim, my little duck, the reason I volunteered.

I heard footsteps, my hunting instincts kicking in and turned to face my intruder. I stopped cold; my face void of any emotion as I saw the brutal monster from District Two standing before me.

"What are you doing here?" my voice was cold, yet surprisingly soft.

He smirked at me, his ice blue eyes gleaming in the brightness of the city nightlife.

"I came to get away; you know, Twelve, you scoring an 11 has put a large target on your back. People are pretty upset that such a rat could score so highly."

I watched him closely, not giving any sign or recognition, or any emotion to his statements. Of course the Careers would be upset; someone from the lower districts outshined them, and in more ways than one.

He sat down on one of the plush chairs, putting his hands behind his head, his blue eyes not leaving my own grey ones.

"Clove, my district partner, seems to have quite the plan for your death."

I scoffed slightly; of course the little knife thrower from Two would be premeditating my death, in hopes for being the one to get rid of the Girl on Fire.

"Is that all you Careers do? Premeditate murder and take joy in others despair?"

The smirk that once graced his features seemed to vanish within seconds, and before I knew it, I was being slammed against the wall.

"Is that what you think?! Huh!? What! Think just because you're the Girl on Fire means that we'll just bow down to you and let you live?! You're nothing but district trash, sweetheart."

His voice was unwavering and menacing all at once, causing fear to course through my body as he spoke. I held my gaze with his own, noticing the true iciness of his eyes. Like water to extinguish fire; I have found my biggest opponent, my biggest obstacle in getting home to District Twelve.

But that's when I feel it: this internal rage at hearing him call me district trash, as if I'm burning from the inside out. I feel the look of hatred plastered on both of our faces, and I can see the sanity slipping from his features.

"Then lets finish it right here right now!"2

I'm seething; he is the one who intruded on my space, trying to begin small talk to intimidate me to throw me off in the Games. But I'm smarter than that, and I won't let that happen. But what happens next, does throw me off guard, and sends my emotions soaring into oblivion.

"Just what I thought, Fire Girl; beautiful, naïve, and tempered."

The sanity that had disappeared only moments before was now once again apparent in the ice cold irises of the brutal monster. I was stunned, hearing the words escape his mouth. Beautiful; the words ring out through my mind as they begin to sink in, but as soon as they sink in, my facial features harden and I find myself bearing my teeth at him, like a rabid animal on the attack.

"You're a brutal bloody monster!"

His grip tightens on my arms, and I can see the sanity slipping once again from my features. I know that I have probably crossed the line, but what happens next catches me off guard: he kisses me.

I am furious; Peeta decided of all nights to profess his undying love for me on national television where all of Panem can hear. How could he do such a thing?! He made me look weak! He made me look like some District Twelve floosy that struts their stuff to anyone by the slag heap! But Haymitch said he made me look desirable. Who would want to desire me? Why would I want to be desired by anyone? Cinna attempted to calm me down, but after pushing Peeta into that vase, fury coursing my veins, nothing could stop me from being livid.

I wanted to run away; escape this place and hide in the woods for the rest of my life with Prim; no Hunger Games, no starvation, just us against the world. I wandered to the roof; my silky green night gown feeling cool against my warm skin seemed to relax me slightly: Until he showed up again.

"Stalking me now are you Two?"

I turned to see Cato standing only a few feet behind me, his arms crossed and his head tilted backwards as if he was examining me.

"So the star-crossed lovers of District Twelve… How… sweet."

I roll my eyes, turning to face the streets of the Capitol, watching the people below us celebrate the evening before the opening of the Hunger Games. Why would Peeta pick such a night to do this kind of thing? Why would I spend my last night alive with this pompous jerk?

"Oh shut it Cato. You have no idea what you're talking about."
Before I know it, I'm being shoved up against the building once again, but this time with Cato's hand wrapped around my neck.

"You and your Lover Boy are just trying to get sponsors to save your sorry asses! You think I have no idea what I'm talking about Fire Girl?! Take a look around you, and see who is the one pinned against a damn building!"

My eyes are wide, filling with fear and uncertainty. Would he really kill me, right here, right now, even though it was illegal until we got into the arena?

"You wouldn't dare touch a hair on my head."

I'm gambling with fate here, and she must have been on my side as he released me, sighing, and turning away from me. I move away from the wall and closer to the guard rail, knowing if he tried to push me off the force field would keep me from falling to my death.

"I'm sorry, I overreacted. Things are stressed on my floor."

His apology startles me, and I don't know what to say to it. It's not every day a Career turns lose a lower district and apologizes to them all in the same day.

"You don't love him, do you Katniss?"

His question rattles me somehow, as if he can see right through me and know that I don't love Peeta, that I may have feelings for another.

"No, Cato, I don't. I don't love Peeta; I barely even know him. I owe him though, for saving my life before, but I don't love him."

Cato smirks and strides over to stand next to me, leaning slightly on the guard rail, watching the mass parties below us.

"He doesn't deserve you Katniss."

His words startle me; I look at him, confusion and awe knitting my brow as I wait for an explanation.

"What do you mean?"

He sighs, still watching the ground below us as if he's looking for the correct words to say.

"He'd never know what to do with you. You're full of fire, you could start a rebellion with one look of those smoky eyes of yours, and he still would tag along like a love sick puppy."

I watched him curiously as he spoke, watching the emotions in his eyes as the words trailed from his lips.

"Maybe you're right. But it doesn't give you the right to talk about him like that."

Cato tenses for a moment, before finally looking at me; his icy eyes seem to bear into my soul, causing me to shift slightly in place.

"Maybe someone else wants you. Maybe someone else wants to show you how he feels about the Girl on Fire."

I laugh slightly, shaking my head and looking down to the crowded streets once again. This was pure insanity, talking to my enemy about such private matters only hours before we would be placed into the arena.

"Like who, Cato? Everyone back home expects me to end up married to Gale with children. I don't want any of that; I can't afford any of that. Love only destroys you once you lose the person."

He scoffs lightly, shaking his head and turning around. I inch up behind him silently, my arms crossed at my chest as if to guard my heart as I approach him.

"From the moment I saw you at the Reaping replays, I knew I had met my match; that you were the one to be taken out first in order to go home; you, Katniss Everdeen, are quite literally the most dangerous person in these games. You are beautiful, intelligent, fiery, and most importantly, you have something worth fighting for."

He turns this time to look at me, an emotion filling his eyes that I can't seem to place, nor do I want to know the truth of.

"And I would do anything in this world to make sure you make it out alive."