This is another fic I wrote based on a fic prompt.
Hope you like it!
...
Cato thinks (he thinks a lot, actually. That's one thing most people don't know about Career training- it's not all about brute force, though really, if he's honest, it mostly is) about how he can finally put this District 12 nuisance to rest. Forever.
He's tried ambushing her, but those in the Cornucopia distracted him. Climbing trees failed miserably and only got people killed (not that he cares, really). Seducing her won't work either. Cato knows he's handsome enough to pull sponsors and probably most of the stupid women in the Capitol are swooning over his powerful form already, slobbering in their wait to get their hands on him, but he's not stupid. He knows Twelve doesn't think anything of Lover Boy even if Lover Boy is too far gone to notice it. No, seducing in the usual sense won't work.
But maybe playing her lust for winning will.
Cato knows it's there- he can see it in her eyes, just as he can see it in his own. She wants this crown almost as much as he does. He knows he wants it more and because of this he will win, but he can lure her in for a while then take care of her easily.
The plan goes like this: he finds her squirreled up in some tree and says, "It would be easier if we worked together."
She glares at him, sensing a trap. He continues, "I saw your training score, and I know you'd make a better partner than Clove. She's vicious but she's an idiot. You're the farthest thing from it."
He says, "You're good with a bow and arrow, long range, and I'm good with an axe, short range. We could knock everyone out without even blinking. Then there would only be one person left to fight. We could give the Capitol a good show."
With that, Twelve scurries farther up in the tree branches. Cato sighs and sits down to wait at the foot of the tree.
"I can wait here all night," he yells to her. "I'm not afraid of any of the others, and I know you won't dare leave that tree with me here."
He waits for a while and just when he's started to doze off a little the branches rustle and he stands to face her as an arrow whizzes past his cheek, missing him by millimeters.
"That was only a warning. I never miss. And this next arrow is aimed right at your heart." Twelve hisses, deadly.
Cato simply laughs. He sees a hint of confusion cross her features before it is swallowed by her usual look of distain.
"I am having a hard time believing you of all people would pass up the chance to knock everyone out of this thing as quickly as possible. If we team up, there is no way anyone else could beat us."
Twelve's aim waivers very slightly, Cato grins maliciously.
"I know you want to go back home as soon as possible, and with me as your ally, that's your best option and you know it." Cato is practically shaking with mirth. If she pairs up with him she'll be able to go home tomorrow- in a wooden box.
Her grip on the bow loosens somewhat, and Twelve shimmies down a few branches, although her eyes are still hard.
Cato flashes her his best smile. "I'm Cato," he says, his voice dripping with honey and poison. "Would you like to be allies?"
A few seconds pass. The wind whistles through the branches. Twelve stares at him and Cato thinks I am the spider and you are the fly.
"I'm Katniss," she says.
