One-Shot: Brutus Wants Me
"You're that good?" Haymitch gawks. "So good that Brutus wants you?"
I pause in our dinner during the preparations for the Third Quarter Quell. I settle deep in thought. To team up with Careers is anathema to me on principle. But these are Career Victors, who have been mentors for years. And Brutus in particular is strong in body. He could help Peeta and I ward off threatening competitors. The only drawback is that he could turn on us at any moment, especially with the help of his district partner and the twins from District 1. My only hope is that Peeta and I can stay three steps ahead of him, and make a clean break before he gets the chance to kill us.
But all I say to Haymitch is, "I'll think about it."
Later that night, when everyone is asleep, I steal down from Floor 12 - the Penthouse Suite - to Floor 2. Finding a door with Brutus's name on it, I knock on the door.
The bodybuilder of a Victor emerges from his quarters, looking sour at being awakened in the middle of the night. He stops short when he sees that it's me.
"What do you want, Girl on Fire?"
I gulp, but keep my gaze steely. "I want an alliance."
Brutus's eyes gleam and a wicked smile crosses his face. "Good choice. Lover Boy in, too?"
I nod. "He'll follow me anywhere. Where I go, he goes."
Brutus shrugs, and it makes me wonder how useful he finds Peeta, especially in comparison to me. Haymitch never actually said whether Brutus wanted to ally with both of us. He only mentioned that Brutus wanted me.
"All right," Brutus agrees. "On one condition." And he looks me up and down in a leering way. I get the subtextual message, and though it disgusts me, I fear more what Brutus will do to Peeta or I in the arena if I refuse.
"Oh." Quietly, I allow him to escort me into his chambers.
Brutus is a rough lover. He kisses me with tongue and slobber. I at least try to extend him the courtesy of being dignified as I try to sell the returning of his kisses. He beds me as though he has never had sex in his life. He thrusts violently and his moans are quite pathetic. He nearly crushes me under his weight. And his... organ is just as enlarged, stretching my vagina to the max - all the more pain because he is literally stealing my virginity from Peeta.
I feel dirty after it is over and he has cast me out of his room, but hopefully not out of his alliance for the time being. I must be of more use to him than cheap sex. I feel like I have been unfaithful to Peeta. But, what's done is done.
And if kissing Brutus, if sleeping with Brutus, is what keeps Peeta alive, then so be it.