A/N Hi everyone, this is my first fic on , and my first real fic ever. Let me know what you think, and if I should continue it. I really don't think I'm that great a writer, but I've gotten a lot of encouragement recently, so here we go! I'm also looking for a beta, if anyone wants the job!
Legal Stuff: I don't own The Hunger Games or the characters. They all belong to Suzanne Collins, I'm just playing with them.
Rated M just to be on the safe side. I don't see any descriptive sexy times in the future unless someone persuades me, but I do see a LOT of violence and death in the future.
Peeta's P.O.V.
This was it. There was no going back from this one moment. I walked into the District 2 apartment. Their mentor, Brutus I think his name was, greeted me on the way from the elevator with a knowing and almost sinister smile. It makes my heart drop into my stomach, worried about what I'm about to do. I walk straight to what I assume is Cato's door, the male tribute from 2.
I knock a few times, quietly, practically shaking at the idea of facing this boy. No, this brute, this... man who was probably going to kill me. I get so lost in my thoughts, I don't notice the door open until he's standing there in front of me.
"Something I can help you with, 12?" He crosses his arms across his bare chest and glances down at me with a smirk. He doesn't even look surprised to see me.
"I-I, yes, uh..." I stutter. Nerves are getting the best of me, and the fact Cato is standing in front of me, towering over me in nothing but sweatpants isn't helping.
"Spit it out, 12, I'm not getting any younger," he says rolling his eyes.
"I-I," oh here we go again, just say it, dammit! "I want to join you. Th-that is, the Careers, your group. I want to be a Career."
He balks at me. "And why would I let you join us? What could you possibly offer?"
Damn. I was hoping he'd just accept me on my strength.
"I... I can give you Katniss. In the arena, I know how to track her." I didn't want to have to do that... No, I don't love her as I said I did in the interviews, but I don't want her to die either.
He glances behind me, and a look of almost disgust crosses his features. I turn and see Brutus standing there, just watching us with that sick smile still plastered on his face. Cato grabs my arm and pulls me, rather forcefully into his room, slamming the door behind us.
"What the hell was that?" I almost yell. I catch myself one second too late, and glance up at Cato. I just basically yelled at him, not the best way to get on his good side.
"I can't stand that rat," he says gesturing back towards the door. "Now, we can talk Peeta."
He... He said my name? Not 12, not 'Hey, you'. "What do you mean, 'now'?"
"I mean, now that I don't have my mentor breathing down my neck, we can have a real conversation." He moves to sit down on his bed. I'm not exactly sure what's going on, his whole demeanor has changed... It's like I'm talking to a completely different person.
He continues, "You don't have to do that. Give up the girl, I mean. You can be in the alliance, I'm not going to make you find her for us."
At first, I'm in shock. I can be part of the alliance, be a Career, and I don't have to betray my district partner. "Thank you?" I question. "But," don't look a gift mutt in the mouth, Peeta, "why?"
He looks away, "You love her, you said so yourself. I won't... I can't make you give that up."
He almost looks hurt. I can't imagine. "I don't love her." I can't stop the words coming out of my mouth, now. "I just said that to get sponsors. I-I don't even like girls." I slap my hands over my mouth. Why the hell did I just say that? I turn towards Cato to find him staring at me, his own mouth hanging open. I turn away almost as fast, looking for the nearest exit or the easiest way to kill myself before he gets the chance.
Before I know what's happening, he's standing and walking over to me. I try to back towards the door, but before I can get another inch, he has me... And... He's hugging me. He pulls back slightly.
"Wh-" But before I get the chance to ask, he's locked his lips on mine. It takes me a few seconds to realize what's going on before I kiss him back. It's not a deep kiss or rough, nothing like what I'd expect kissing Cato to be like. Not that I've thought of kissing him.
It's over as fast as it started, and Cato's pulling away from me. My brain hasn't quite caught up with everything that just happened, but he seems more than in control.
"I-I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that," he says.
"Cato, I-"
"No. You're part of the Careers, Peeta. Don't worry, I'll protect you from them. Just... Don't tell them about this." He gestures between the two of us. "They don't know I'm... They just don't know, ok. They also think I'm the brute character I put forward to everyone. Please, Peeta, don't tell them I'm anything different. I can't promise I'll be able to protect you if they find out. Now, will you please leave?"
He looks at me again with this look of sadness. I want to go to him, like he did me, and hug him and kiss him and tell him I wouldn't dare hurt him.
He walks past me to the door, and opens it. I walk out, but turn to tell him something only to have the door slammed in my face. I'd never thought I'd see Cato hurt in any way, but that's what that look on his face was.
I walk past Brutus, who still has that same smile on his face. I don't pay him any attention, too wrapped up in my own thoughts. I step into the elevator and hit the 'R' button. I can't go back to my own floor yet, I've got to clear my head before tomorrow. Before the games start.
The doors of the elevator open onto the roof. It's barely lit, but I can make out a viewing ledge ahead. I walk forward and rest my head on my arms there. Cato kissed me. He kissed me after he found out I was gay. Does he have feelings for me? He lead on that he was gay too, or at least bisexual. The real question, do I have feelings for him? Can I have feelings for him? We're going into the arena tomorrow, and only one person will come out. He said he'd protect me, but...
I hear a ding that signifies the opening of the elevator again. At this point, I don't even care who it is, I'm starting to develop a headache, and it's all Cato's fault.
"Well, if it isn't Loverboy." I turn in shock to see the District 1 boy and Clove, Cato's district partner. "I would have expected Fire Girl to be up here with you, she is your girlfriend after all."
I don't know what to do... Cato obviously hasn't told them I joined yet, or they wouldn't look like they were about ready to murder me. They won't believe me if I tell them... I've got to get past them to the elevator.
"What's the matter," Clove says, "mutt got your tongue?" She laughs, and it's the most sickening sound I've ever heard.
"I-I should be getting back down to my floor," I say, making a break for the elevator. Before I get even close, the boy from 1 wraps his arm around my neck.
"Going somewhere, Loverboy? I don't think we're quite finished with you, yet." He tightens his grip and lifts me off the floor from behind.
"Go ahead, Marvel, show him who's boss," Clove cackles. These people, who are supposed to be my teammates, are trying to kill me before the Games even start.
I thrash about wildly for a few seconds before I get my senses back. I stop moving for a second, then kick back as hard as I can into Marvel. He falls to the floor, letting me go. I must have hit a sensitive area. Before Clove can react, I run to the elevator, but it opens before I get the chance to hit the button. I brace myself for the worst, Clove rushing up behind me and who the hell knows what waiting for my in the slowly opening elevator.
But it's Cato.
I hear Clove behind me. "Oh, now you're in for it Loverboy! Cato, he tried to hurt Marvel, and escape us!"
"Cato," I say, "They tried..."
He looks down at me and smirks, "I said I'd protect you."
He shoves Clove back just as Marvel gets to his feet. They look as thought they're going to fight, but at the last second Cato pushes me into the elevator. He follows me in, and jams the '12' button. The doors close, and we're alone.
"They're not going to like that," he says. "Sorry to tell you, Peeta, but there's probably not going to be a Career alliance anymore. At least not for us."
"What?" Wow, Peeta, you're so eloquent today, I think. "They wouldn't just oust you for saving me, would they?"
"Yeah, Marvel's been trying to take away control from me this whole time." Why doesn't it look like this is bothering him that much? "Now he has Clove, they'll try to kill us both."
The doors open into the penthouse.
"I'll still protect you, Peeta. I promise. Now, get some sleep before tomorrow. I'll talk to you in the morning about what we're going to do." He reaches for the '2' button.
"Are you going to be ok?" I ask. "With Clove on your floor and all, I mean."
"She's been staying with Marvel every night since we got here, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me, Peeta."
The doors close, and he's gone. Even with his last words, I can't help but worry. I don't even know why, but... I think I like him.
A/N: Well, there you have it. The first chapter of my first fic! I hope you all liked it, and if you did, please review! I'd love to hear from you. Also, this whole thing is based on a gif I saw of Cato in the hovercraft before the games.
3 You All!