The Fight for Dominance

The struggle for dominance started on the train. We had just left our district when the train stopped abruptly. There was another train stopped on the other side of the platform that looked identical to the one we were travelling on. The metallic doors of it had just slid open soundlessly revealing the party from District 2. It was customary for the two Career districts to join the same train en route to the Capitol as a sign of unity. I thought it was a load of bollocks.

The tributes from 2, along with their mentors and entourage, stepped purposefully onto the platform and strode across to us. The girl tribute was small and mousey-looking with dark hair and a stare that said 'don't mess with me'. Alongside her was the male tribute, a brute of a boy, who looked horrendously beefy with muscles rippling on every part of his body. He had short blond hair, a face that the girls would certainly find attractive, and brown, deep, stone-cold eyes. Even the way he walked made him look arrogant and I was in no doubt that he thought himself better than the rest of us. I learned later that their names were Clove and Cato.

They stepped on to our train, moving swiftly through the carriages towards us. We passed briefly in the hallway before they were led to a different carriage. Cato was glaring menacingly at me, almost daring me to fight him, trying to be intimidating. But I was not intimidated.

I reckoned I could have beaten him in a fight. It's fair to say no one would bet on me in that aforementioned fight because Cato was visibly stronger: he had larger muscles all over, a ripped chest and stomach and had a height advantage of a few inches. But I doubted that he was very agile or intelligent. I was. I had proved this in the training centre back in our district. When we were matched up to practice hand-to-hand combat, no one would choose to go with me, because they knew that they'd get slaughtered. I was confident I could beat Cato.

Later on that evening, we all gathered in the dining carriage for our meal. Once the food was served, the only sound that could be heard was the clanging and clattering of cutlery against crockery. For once, the avoxes were making more noise than we were.

Then Gloss, my mentor, spoke breaking the unbearably awkward silence.
'We need to start talking tactics', he said, 'but before that, we need to decide who will lead the Career pack this year.'

This announcement drew both Cato's and my attention as we looked away from our food and payed attention to what Gloss was saying.

'Usually, the female tributes choose not to put themselves forward. Is that the case this year ladies?' The two girls both nodded.

'I don't think we should get in the way of Cato and his massive ego anyway, for our own wellbeing' Clove piped up. This earned her daggers from Cato which she returned to him with equal intensity.

Gloss continued, 'Which leaves us with the gents... Any volunteers?'

Cato and I both spoke at once, meaning what he said was unintelligible to me, and vice versa, but it was clear that we both wanted it. He glared at me intensely again, trying to make me back down, but I was not frightened of him.

'Oh, I see.' continued Gloss. 'Well we mentors will need to decide between the two of you, for the best potential leader, to benefit all of you'. He stood up and summoned the other mentor, Brutus, to a private room so they could debate over their choice.

In what seemed to be no time at all, they re-entered. I was fearful that they had chosen Cato because of his superior physique as my talents were not blindingly or immediately obvious.

'We have come to a decision.' Brutus grunted. 'The fairest way to decide the alpha male is a fight.'

'No weapons, of course, we don't want you getting injured too badly.' Gloss chirped in happily like it was the greatest idea in the world.

'Isn't that against the rules?' Glimmer said, being the goody-two-shoes that she is.

'Yes. But what the game makers don't know won't hurt them.'

The decision was final, they said. But I was quietly confident leading up to the fight. Cato was overconfident and completely underestimated me. The fight was to be held in our accommodation centre as the training centre had cameras all over it. The mentors had cleared an open space in the living area, surrounded by the sofas. Congregated on the sofas were the girls, mentors and stylists.

'Now,' said Gloss. 'To prevent either one of you two getting too badly injured, we will call stop when the winner of the fight has become obvious. And when we call stop, you must stop.'

Cato was now facing me, stood up with a smug grin on his face. With any luck, he wouldn't have it for long.

The key to beating a larger, and stronger, opponent in a fight is to use his own weight and power against him. These types of fighters were clumsy and laborious, and Cato was probably too. I had formulated a plan in my head. I would wait for him to make the first attacks, which I would dodge, until he tired a bit. Then I would take the opportunity to catch one of his slower punches and throw him to the ground.

'Begin.' Brutus grumbled and they all watched eagerly, apart from Clove who didn't look the slightest bit interested.

Nobody moved initially. It seemed we were both waiting for the other person to attack first. Then Cato thrust his right fist, which was clenched, towards my chest in an attempt to punch me. I saw this coming a mile off though as it was slow, as expected. I swerved to the right to dodge the blow.

THWACK! Out of nowhere, he jabbed speedily with his left arm. This forceful blow connected with my chest leaving me partially winded and slightly off balance. I hadn't expected that. As I tried to right myself, his leg swept my feet from beneath me and I tumbled to the floor.

As I regained my composure and attempted to stand, I felt his foot clamping me to the ground. I looked up to see his powerful leg forcing me into the ground. I wriggled and tried to free myself but nothing could beat his humungous thigh muscle.

Brutus yelled out 'Stop!' but I hardly think it was needed. It was obvious to all, who had won the fight and there was no way I could continue in my current position, trapped under the weight of Cato.

He looked down at me, beaming, because he had won so easily. It seemed like Cato was the kind of guy who would never let me forget how easily he had floored me. I was gutted that I had to bow down to him from now on.

He was the alpha male. Which meant that he had a better chance of surviving.

After the fight, I stood up, not wanting to talk to anyone, and rushed straight to my room.

I was the one who had underestimated my opponent. Obviously, Cato had some brains in that head of his and he was agile too. It taught me a lesson for stereotyping him as a thick, clumsy oaf.

I was disappointed in myself. All those years of training had been useless. I convinced myself that I was the superior being. I was the more intelligent one, I had the better leadership skills, I had the cunningness. The only thing that Cato had was fighting skills. They don't necessarily make for a good leader.

As the evening passed, I worked myself up about how the fight was not a fair test for leadership skills. I became fuming and increasingly irate as time went by. In a moment of rage, I decided to go and confront Cato with my thoughts on the matter. I was going to give him a piece of mind.

Fury had clouded my mind. What would come from voicing my opinions? I didn't know, but I needed to let off steam.

I pounded on the door to his room, and within seconds he opened it.

I paused momentarily before ranting about how the fight was an unfair test, how a leader should not just be strong but cunning, tactical and intelligent. He stood calmly, listening to what I had to say and when I had finished, he said:

'I agree.'

I was shocked and I was pretty sure that this was visible on my face as my jaw dropped. I never would have thought that Cato would agree with me. I was fully expecting a full blown argument which would have ended in me getting beaten to a pulp.

'In fact, I can think of a test that would assess strength amongst tactics, willpower and strength of mind. Are you game?' he continued.

'Yeah' I was, and I was certainly going to win this time.

'The winner of this test will be the leader of the careers, fair and square. And if either of us forfeits, the other wins by default.'

Hints of worry were creeping into my mind. What kind of test would make one of us forfeit? But still, I was determined to prove that I should be the rightful leader of the Career pack.

'What is this test then?' I questioned, ' I think we should go get the others to judge or referee or something.'

'No. They're not needed; we'll be doing this test on our own.' he boomed. 'The task is to, by any means necessary; get your opponent to cum.'

I stood shocked, stunned silent.

'Wait! What?' I protested, 'I never agreed to that!'

'So I take it that you are forfeiting already then?' The smug look returned to his face. It was if he had been planning this all along.

'Woah, hold on. That's not what I said. I was just a bit shocked, that's all.' I didn't give him the satisfaction of my forfeit. 'Is there any other test that'll do?'

'Can you think of one then?'

Nothing came to mind. It was utterly foolish of me to suggest a re-test when I hadn't thought of a suitable test that would work.

'But isn't this a bit gay?' Getting someone to cum is more than a bit gay, it IS gay. But I didn't say this to Cato as I didn't want to show him any fear.

'Yes. Yes it is.' Cato winked at me and had a smug, arrogant grin on his face again.

I had to wipe that smile off his face. I had to win, by any means necessary.