A/N: This is my first Hunger Games story, so don't beat me up about it.

Disclaimer-If I owned the Hunger Games, Clove and Cato would win

What Doesn't Kill You: The Girl with the Iron Skull

Clove's POV.

Cato! Cato!" I screeched, regretting that I had lied to the Girl on Fire- Katniss. Now, my stupid, brash mistake has gotten me captured. The big brute from 11 had me in his grasp, and despite twisting and turning. My knives, every single last one of my knives were either on the ground or in a place impossible to reach. At least I had Cato, he promised he would come for me if I needed help, even after our argument, and he would come…..right? I think back to a few hours before…

Flashback

"I think we should both go, just in case Lover Boy shows up" insisted Cato.

Rolling my eyes I turned to my district partner and best friend. "You said it yourself, you know where you cut him, and he's probably stashed in some bushes while Katniss goes to the feast and gets some medicine, plus I'm quicker and not so clumsy" I sighed, turning to sharpen my endless selection of knives.

"Clove your insane, and plus you swore I got to kill her!" he whined, sounding like a 3-year old.

"That was earlier Cato, I'll give them a good show, go get our food, kill Katniss and meet you back here" I snapped, losing my temper-which was shorter than ever from hunger.

"At least have me go the edge to watch for any surprises-"Cato was cut off as I lunged for him.

"Why? Do you think I can't handle myself? That I'm just a weak little girl who can't do anything by herself?" I snarled knife at his throat.

"Easy there Princess, just calm down, you and I both know you can handle yourself-"he was cut off again as I stormed away from him. "Just watch Cato, I'll bring the Victors Crowns to our heads while you sit around!" I called over my shoulder.

"Fine!" Cato yelled, storming away from me- maybe to go look for food? I sighed, heading towards the Cornucopia, a wicked grin on my face. "Let's go give them a good show" I whispered, knives at the ready.

End of Flashback

"Clove!" the cry came from the woods. He came! That imbecile followed me-thank god I thought as Cato sprinted out, holding a large sword in his right hand. Thresh turned to the call, then looked back at me, fear and terror briefly flashing in his cold dark eyes-before it turned to anger. Before bending down, holding me in one fist-another bad reason for being small, and picked up a large rock easily like it was a feather. He turned back to me, swinging the rock around and BAM! Hit my temple with the rock. I fell to the ground, my life flashing before my eyes. Me first going into the training center, meeting Cato, watching my only sister die in the Hunger Games, how he comforted me, spending those nights together away from everybody else. No, we were not star-crossed lovers, anything but that. We were like twins, never separated. We knew each other's darkest secrets, our worst nightmares, our pains, the times we laughed and cried, and how we knew each other's thoughts. I thought of the pact we made when we both volunteered. I see recent memories too. I see the bloodbath, spending time with Glimmer and Marvel, tributes we hunted down, the tracker jacker nest and Cato nursing me back to health, the explosion of our precious supplies, and the last words we said to each other.

I could faintly here the Fire-girl and Thresh talking like they were old friends, not ripping each other apart. Cato was-where was Cato? I saw him at the edge of my vision, frozen in shock like a statue as he stared at me, lying on the ground. Come 'on Cato, kill them already! Now's your chance to become victor! I wanted to scream, but my voice wouldn't work-practically nothing worked. The two parted ways and raced off, Cato still staring. Letting out a feeble moan of pain, Cato shook his head and raced to my side.

"Clove it's okay, we can get some medicine and bandages and fix this all, we can win" rambled Cato, holding me in his arms. He placed his hand on my temple, quickly becoming soaked in blood. He kept talking me, pleading me to stay with him, but I was elsewhere.

The realization hit me like a bucket of cold water. I would never become victor. I would never live in the victor's village, right next to Cato. I would never get married and have a family. I was just like my older sister, a big failure. All because of one little cocky, hasty lie I made to Katniss about Rue. If I had been smart, I would have killed her straight away, I would be with Cato now, food a plenty. I would die young, and all that it took to kill me was a stupid rock.

"Cato w-win f-for us" my voice- barely more than a whisper, came from somewhere. Spots clouded my vision and I could barely hear Cato speaking.

"No Clove-you swore we would win together. The victors of District 2. Live side by side until a ripe old age, in the Victors Village, legends to be passed down by our children." Sobbed Cato, tears streaming down his face. No it was impossible, brutal, bloody Cato crying? He cared that much for me? I was crazy, a sadistic killer who played with knives ?

"Cato-" my thought was never finished as darkness wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and I faintly heard a cannon fire. MY cannon fire. I let darkness cover me completely, and sank into the pain free empty blackness…