O_o
A/N: I honestly don't know what to say. I've never gotten seventeen reviews on one chapter before and I'm kinda scared about posting a new chapter since I wrote this one super quick, even though I had another chapter two. Thank you to all my reviewers, alerters, and favoriters, I hope this lives up to all of you guys' expectations.
Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or anything recognizable, unless there's book being made about a threesome between Gale, Peeta, and Cato with a lusty Finnick on the side... then I might I have gained ownership. ;D
Warnings: Childhood drama, OCs, excessive use of "his prince"(Peeta does not and will hardly ever call Cato by his given name. He has taken on a submissive/subservient role. He will only use "his master or something else.) Bad grammar, and this weird POV I'm using; third person objective I think, ooh, and time-skip(A year or so.)
Fragments
Chapter 2: The Prince and Princess
The bright sun peeks from its spot in the clouds, beating down on two boys (one boy tied to tree, the other watching him.) in a large grassy field with sparse trees decorating the land. There are some fallen lawn gnomes surrounding the two boys, but they don't care for that. Both of the children are having an intense battle of the wills.
Peeta forces tears in his eyes as he valiantly struggles against the ropes' tight hold. He glares with all his might at his redheaded captor, Spartacus. Spartacus returns the glare, twirling his wooden sword in one hand, whilst a malicious grin curls on his pale face. "Tell me where your gallant prince resides, princess. He hasn't come to rescue you yet. It's obvious that's he's forgotten or found another, better, princess to care for!"
Peeta shakes his head, defiant. His blue-eyed glare is still trained on the nine-year old villain. "Your lies shan't affect me! He shall come and rescue me. He always does," Peeta's voice drops into a low whisper. A tone of promise and finality weaved into his words.
He frowned when Spartacus simply scoffed, waving him off. In a flash the sword's point was digging into the base of his throat. Peeta let out a few gasps as he was pressed into the rough surface of the maple tree. "Because I am a nice person I shall give you another chance. Humph, I'll sweeten the deal too. You're pretty enough. You could be dressed up as a girl and taken as my princess. Anything and everything shall be yours, if you simply be a good little princess and give me the location! If you don't..." Spartacus pushes the sword further.
"What's your answer?"
Peeta's frown becomes heavier. He sits rigid, "Do you remember the night I kissed you on the cheek?"
"Yes…?" Peeta allows a microscopic smile to appear on his face at the slight hesitation in Spartacus' voice
"Well, I was infected by a girl's cooties." Peeta suddenly smirks. "And not just any girl's cooties, Lyra's cooties! A birthday gift from my prince!" He laughs at his captor's horrified face.
"I'm going to die!" Spartacus yowls while Peeta nods sadistically. Lyra's cooties were one of the most potent weapons in the world, only fought off by a mother's kiss beforehand or a special cootie shot. Luckily, Peeta had gotten the cootie shot a month prior to this whole situation.
"You'll pay for this!"
Peeta shuts his eyes just as Spartacus removes his sword to position it at the side of his neck. Peeta knows Spartacus intends to cleave his head right off. He squeezes his eyes further when the sword is removed, he can hear the slight whizzing through the air and then, Peeta waits. He is only child of seven so he succeeds in waiting for fifteen seconds, then he opens one eye, and then another, clearly surprised at the sight in front if him.
"My prince," Peeta crows, happily. "You came!" He gazes upon his prince, Cato, who was wearing tan shorts with a yellow t-shirt and worn tennis shoes. A wooden sword is in his left hand, a small wooden shield in his right. His prince holds Spartacus in a standstill as he turns to Peeta.
"Of course I came, princess! Moth- I mean, the Wicked Witch of the Scipio, made me clean out the royal wardrobe and toy chest. That's why I was so late," His prince explains.
"Why didn't prince call me to do it for him, a princess' job is to service the prince." Peeta questions as he cocks his head to the side.
"The Wicked Witch of Scipio demands that I learn to clean by myself." Cato scowls while Peeta hides a snicker behind a cough. Over the year he had been with Cato, so far, he had learned that if anything he did not like to clean.
"Sorry, prince, had-"
"EXCUSE ME! Can we get back to what we were doing! I'm on a tight schedule here!" Spartacus yells, his foot tapping on the grass impatiently.
"Sorry," Peeta mumbles sheepishly, apologizing for both he and his prince.
"It's fine. I apologize for snapping like that, but I have training after this and I'm supposed to be warming up like Mother told me. Not playing silly games like these," Spartacus responds coolly. He proceeds to cough three times. His voice becoming funnily deeper before a dark look crosses his face. He takes a deep breath, slipping into his other persona.
"A little late, Cato, dear boy, don't you think? One second later and your princess would've been decapitated."
"Close your ears, prince. Don't trust his slimy words," Peeta calls from his spot. Spartacus was a tricky one. His tongue was sharper than the sharpest blade, and Peeta wouldn't pretend he understood all that came from Spartacus' mouth.
"Yes," Spartacus' smile grows larger. "Listen to your princess despite knowing the truth in my words. It won't make you any different from the rest of the human population. We all like to be blind to our errors~."
Peeta sinks deeper when he sees the ashen face of his prince. Spartacus has no idea what he has set off. He silently counts down in his head, 5... 4... 3... there is visible shaking from his prince... 2... 1... "Boom," Peeta mouths just as his prince lets out a mighty war cry, dropping his shield to the ground.
Spartacus back peddles, his sword twisted in front of him. Peeta resists the urge to cheer as his prince begins to fight Spartacus head on. He's a flurry of motion. All Peeta can see is Spartacus continuously being pushed back while his prince makes these fast-paced movements. The noise hears Peeta is just as vague as what he sees; all he can hear is the grunting of Spartacus and the loud clatter whenever their swords met. Peeta grinned when he heard the thunderous yelp coming from Spartacus. The short battle between the two was coming to its end, and Peeta knew who would be victor.
"Ready to die, Spartacus?" Peeta heard his prince question as he looked upon his kneeling opponent.
"Cheater-cheater-pumpkin eater!" Spartacus spat, an angry blush on his face. His prince shrugged off the comment before he moved his sword in a quick slicing motion.
Spartacus' hands clamped tightly to his neck, he let out a few gurgled moans and then he dropped to the ground, motionless. Peeta gasps at the grotesque sight of 'blood' staining Spartacus' porcelain hands. However, that doesn't do anything to stop the joyous feeling that rushes through him.
"Prince, you won!"
"But of course! The good guy always wins, right?" Peeta laughs as his prince rolls his eyes in a goofy fashion. Peeta holds out his wrists and feet when his prince stands in front of him, still waving his sword.
"Release me, please."
His prince complies, unleashing him with two simple cuts. Peeta immediately jumps up, scowling at his reddened wrists and ankles. He smiles up at his prince, bowing to show his gratitude. "Thanks for saving me."
His Prince grabs Peeta's hand, seconds away from kissing (really pecking.) it when Peeta shakes. "What's wrong?"
"Have you gotten your cootie shot yet?"
His Prince grunts and glances away. "I have no need for such a thing, the Wicked Witch of the Scipio always kisses me before I go anywhere."
"Then you're safe!" Peeta can't help but clap. He may be immune to Lydia's evil cooties but he still carries the virus. He can spread it anytime. He was just worried that his prince might catch it and suffer the future fate that Spartacus would've of he lived.
"Of course I'm safe," His prince huffs. "That aside, can I do my princely duty and kiss the princess' hand?"
Peeta nods, holding out his right hand. His prince pecks it quickly making Peeta blush. He retracts his hand, holding it against his chest. Tonight he shall study his hand and see if he can find the source of the current tingle he feels right where his prince's lips were.
He then pushes the odd feelings away for the moment, staring at his prince, not really knowing what to say next. There is a question on the tip of his tongue, but he's afraid to ask it. Peeta was sure the reaction to his question would not be worth actually gaining his answer. Luckily, or rather unluckily, his prince notices him and his quiet mulling over his dilemma.
"What is it?"
"N-nothing," Peeta lies with a small smile in place.
"You're a horrible liar, you know. Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" His prince inquires as he rubs his cheek subconsciously.
"There's nothing on your face or a reason for what I'm doing," Peeta lies yet again.
"Your Master commands you to tell him the truth," His prince says strongly. He stamps his foot to add emphasis.
The seven-year-old flinches, but nevertheless does what he is told. "I was just wondering why do you always protect me? I am but a slave and you are my Master. Shouldn't I be the one protecting you? Aren't I the prince and you the princess?"
"No!" His prince immediately says as if the very idea is preposterous.
"Why?"
" Cuz, I say so. Besides you're cute and stuff. Nobody would take you seriously if you ever protect or defend me. Plus, you just started your training with Commodus! I'll be the laughing stock of the whole Academy if someone saw me getting babied by you."
"Ooh," Peeta's eyes flickered to the ground. His prince was basically telling him that he was useless. That hurt.
"Hey," his prince pulls his chin up to look at him. The nine-year old grinned, reassuring his charge. "You're seven and I think - I mean people think you're cute. It's my duty and honor to protect someone weaker than me. There's nothing wrong with it. I mean just think. You can lure all my enemies to me with just your smile! So, it's not bad. You can stop with the frowny face, it ruins your looks."
"Ok."
"Are you good now?"
"Yup," Peeta chirps. Although inwardly he still feels a little inadequate. He makes a silent promise that he will be strong enough one day to protect his Prince... and not be so cute.
"Good!" his prince grabs one hand leading his down the grassy terrain toward his house. "Crassus is making us lunch, and if we hurry we get to play pirates! Mother might even let us watch a Pre-Dark Days movie called Pirates of the Caribbean!"
"Aye, Captain," Peeta says, and just like that his prince has transformed into a fierce captain ready to take on the seven seas.
Meanwhile, a forgotten Spartacus leapt up from his spot on the ground, running after the two boys, yelling, "Hey, I want to join too!"