Happy birthday Booky! Here's a CatoClove to make up for a loss of couple action in the film. Much love, hope you have a great day xx

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger games. This is also published as part of booky's drabble on the fire is catching now forum account.

(The night)

"Cato?"

The voice that haunted his dreams was close… it sounded real. Was it a dream? He wasn't quite sure.

"Cato?"

A shake. He opened his eyes slightly enough to view the outline of her body, it definitely wasn't a dream, but that didn't mean he had to wake up completely right? He tried to block the voice and remember his pleasant dream from before but all such hopes were demolished by a harsh pinch from said girl.

"No need for violence Clove, save that for tomorrow," he grumbled, as he opened his eyes and tried to wipe the sleep from them. "What are you doing here anyway? You should be trying to get as much sleep as possible for the big day."

She sighed, before giving her explanation, as if admitting something was wrong actually pained her. "I can't sleep."

He rolled over so he could see her face, though it proved to be a distraction and her lack of clothes didn't help either.

"Why. You're not actually worried about the games are you?" Clove tried to avoid his gaze, but he could see from her nervous expression that it's bothering her, he's surprised she came to him for comfort, actually admitted she needed it.

"Clove don't turn into a nervous wreck now, I've seen you in the training room, and you're good. You don't hesitate to kill. If I get wiped out the competition then I'm pretty certain you'll win, okay."

She smirked confidently, there was his usual Clove. "I know that, I'm not nervous about killing people. Like that girl on fire bitch I can't wait to get my hands on her. I've had to listen to all that rubbish about the star crossed lovers, these people will buy any story for a bit of entertainment, it's pathetic."

"Well that's the Capitol for you, so what's actually wrong?"

Clove sighed and moved so she was lying next to Cato on the bed, their arms just touching. She linked their fingers together for second before letting go and he longed to hold her hand.

"I just don't really want to have to kill you." She whispered so quietly he could barely hear her, and once again he knew it was probably taking a lot fot her to admit any of this. So he did what he usually did when emotions came up and tried to wipe it off casually.

"Well if it's any comfort I don't particularly want to kill you either," With his signature arrogant smile, that often made Clove want to slap him. Why is it, she thought whilst rolling her eyes, that I had to end up liking this bastard. She turned away so she was no longer facing him, but didn't make any move to get off the bed. He poked her side to get her attention.

"Listen Clove, you know... you know you mean a lot to me." He sighed and decided to tell her what had been at the back of his mind since they left District 2. "I made a promise to myself to keep you safe until it's just the two of us and I'm going to keep to that."

"Hmmmm, if you say so."

He wrapped his arms round her waist so they were dangerously close, she could feel hot breath against her cheek. It was so tempting to turn around, to kiss him as hard as she could and try not to think about tomorrow where they'd officially be competitors, in a game neither could afford to lose.

"Stop doing that!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about." He said quietly into her ear and she shivered involuntarily. He tickled her under the chin and against her will she giggled in a very un-Clove like manner.

Cato raised an eyebrow. "You're ticklish? The 'great warrior Clove' is ticklish?" He snorted.

"Shut up!" She grumbled irritably, she hated being made fun of. "I bet you are too."

"Me? No way!" She eventually turned around to see another smirk in place. She couldn't wait to get rid of it.

"Ohh believe me I'll find out." He knew she would, didn't mean he wouldn't try and put up a fight for his dignity.

"What, no. Clove I know you're desperate to touch me but you don't need to come up with stupid excuses."

"Aww is little Cato afraid of being tickled!" She teased in an excessively babyish voice before pouncing with seeking fingers.

Clove put up a good fight, but when it came to strength Cato was just that much stronger. They rolled around not noticing how near to the edge of the bed they were. Before Clove could fall she felt his large arms around her, stopping her back from hitting the hard floor.

"Always watch your surroundings during hand to hand combat." Came Cato's mocking voice in a very bad impression of their old training instructor.

Bored of the conversation, and not wanting any further teasing, she shut him up the only way she knew how. And so she pulled his head abruptly towards hers and crashed into his mouth. Far from protesting, he rolled her over, groaning slightly.

They'd kissed before but not for so long, since they were often interrupted by other tributes and members of the Capitol. It had been suggested to use it as a way to get support from the public, but both agreed they would rather that everyone not know about their whirlwind romance, it was one more weakness to add to the list. Besides they didn't want to look they were copying the so called "star crossed lovers of district 12."

Their kisses were never gentle, they were harsh and passionate. There were no whispers of love, but growls and commands. They left bruises and marks, because neither was fragile and they'd finally found someone who they didn't need to hold back on. Tonight they went all out, for tomorrow would come and they could no longer afford to show their weakness. And though they would not say it, one of them would have to die, and then what would the other do?

(The day)

"Stay with me!"

He clutched her face desperately, stroking her hair and holding her close. He'd never thought about it before but life without Clove would be so dull, so boring, so pointless. No one cared about him, his family just saw him as something to train and sell off, the capitol too, just an object. He was a psychopath who only knew how to kill and hurt. And so was Clove.

" I…c-can't… it h-hurts… s-so much, C-Cato I-"

"Shhh now Clove," he whispered softly. And bent down so he was close enough to her ear so only she could hear, so he could tell her the one thing he only ever dared to in his dreams. "I never told you Clove," He choked on the tears he was trying to hold back as the lump in his throat grew bigger. "I love you."

But she was already dead. She had never heard the three words he had been waiting to tell her until the right moment, she'd never know and they could never be together. Never get married, have children or even break up and just stay friends, they were going to win with the new rule made for them. And for the first time since he started training to be a career he cried. He sobbed over her dead body, considering just grabbing a knife and killing himself, at least then they'd be together.

Then he remembered, he had to do one last thing for Clove. For her. He gently kissed her head, wiping away the tears pouring down his face and angrily telling himself to stop crying, crying was for the weak. And as he prepared to depart her body, and leave to kill Thresh, his final words bounced of the surroundings like a cold hollow saying.

"Goodbye."

Shaking in anger he made a vow to himself. He would do his best to make them all have the heartbreak and pain he was feeling, and even if he died who the hell cared. His fists clenched in anger ready to hit anything that moved, ready to kill. Cato had snapped and someone was going to die.