Career Bonds
LabRat3000
Prologue: Misunderstood Bonds
Peeta Mellark slowly walked through the unfamiliar halls. It was only his second night here. He didn't even know how to get to his own room. He read the paper one more time and stopped at a door.
"Cato? Are you in there?" Peeta Mellark asked as he knocked on the door. He has never felt so foreign, so out of place. He was greeted by a look of surprise as a taller blond answers the door.
The shock written on Cato's face was quickly covered with a smug look. "Can't wait to be killed, can you twelve?"
Silence. That's all that came out of their mouths for a good minute. Of course, this isn't the only form of communication. Cato studied Peeta's eyes. He saw fear, as he was expecting, but that's not what he was hoping for. "Well? What are you doing here?"
"I, um.." Peeta started. He looked at the floor. "I actually came to ask you, uh, something." He looked up at the taller boy with hope.
Cato studied the baker's son's eyes before replying, "Okay, okay, I'll make it quick and painless when I kill you!"
"Actually, I was, um, wondering if you would, like, let me be part of your pack." answered Peeta, quickly.
Cato paused for a moment. He didn't know what the other tribute was thinking because Peeta was looking at the floor again. "So you want to be one of us, huh? Well... it's not like we can say, 'okay,' and then it's a done deal." Cato opened the door a little more revealing his perfectly organized room. "Come in."
Peeta hesitated. He carefully looked around before entering. He noticed that Cato had been reading most of the books that the capitol had supplied then. When he asked what they were about Cato simply told him, "Just some mystery books and the occasional-" he paused, looking directly into Peeta soul, "romance novel."
Peeta nodded, even though he had no idea why that last part was important. He replied, "I like those kind of books too, mystery that is. Although, in district 12, we don't really have many books."
"Well, maybe if things were different, you could come to my place in district 2. I have tons of mystery books. We could read together."
Peeta smiled, thinking that he had won Cato over. "I would love that."
Cato leaned in and kissed Peeta. Peeta was in shock; he couldn't even move. After a while of Peeta standing still and Cato kissing him, Peeta regained his muscles. He pushed Cato away gently.
"What?" Cato asked. His eyebrows made him look genuinely confused.
"What? What do you mean 'what?' You just kissed me! What was that about?" Peeta screamed.
"...Did you talk to your mentor before coming to talk to me?" Cato calmly replied.
"I don't see how that makes a difference!" Peeta answered.
Cato took a step forward, but Peeta took a step back in response. "I don't think you understand how people from other districts become one of us. When you came to me I thought..." started Cato
Peeta's eyes almost popped out of his head in realization. "You mean.. to be a caree- one of you, I have to, uh," He looked at Cato. All of Cato.
Cato sighed. "I like you Peeta. I really like you. I'll let you join without having to, you know. Just, please, don't tell anyone anything. Sponsors like tough guys who fight, not weak guys who think about how they can't even get kissed... Just go, and try not to make me fall more in love with you." Cato signaled to him to leave.
"Can you not tell anyone about this either, even your mentor? Will you tell your friends right before the game starts instead of now? I want this to be a secret that won't reach Katniss or Haymitch." Peeta asked. Cato replied with a curt nod, not even looking in Peeta's direction. "and if it makes a difference, I thought you were a really good kisser," and with that, Peeta shut the door.
A while after Peeta left, Cato heard a knock on the door. "Go away! I'm trying to sleep!" Cato yelled. This couldn't be farther from the truth. The knocking didn't stop.
It was hard to see with blurry eyes, but he decided to open the door. He went to wash his face with some water first because he couldn't afford anyone to know what he was doing.
When he opened the door, he saw none other than Clove. "Guess who knocked on my door." said Clove.
"Who?" Cato asked unenthusiastically.
Clove studied him. "What?"
"Nothing, continue." replied Cato.
"So you know that boy from District 3? Well, he said he could rewire the mines that they put next to the platforms using a boron code or something, and that would," Clove paused trying to remember. "I forgot, but it's a really good idea. I let him join. Not to mention that he's so cute!"
Cato slowly nodded, thinking about something else.
"So Cato, has anyone visited you yet?" asked the brunette.
"Yes, but he misunderstood some facts. He was looking for something else."
"Ugh, stupid avoxes. They always misunderstand everything!"
"Yeah. They always misunderstand everything..."
