Branded in Twilight
Hello my friends. No reviews but im not that surprised. Anyway here is the next part of Branded.
Chapter 2: The Breakdown
Caden POV
For a minute I thought Saffron was joking.
"I heard we get to eat really good food when we become tributes and I am starving!" she turned and sniffed the air.
"Oooooooo I smell it already!" she turned and ran into the cabin on the left. Rose followed her quickly not saying a word and Zeph stood there looking at me worriedly.
"Hey are you ok?" I was still standing there looking at the door.
"C'mon lets see if we can't get you something to eat." He wrapped a muscular arm around my shoulders and started to lead me to the food. Unfortunately I couldn't talk. I don't know why but I just couldn't. So I just silently let him lead me to the small cabin that apparently held food.
Saffron and Rose were both eating food like starving wolves in the middle of the table. Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark were sitting at the end of the table eating with a bit more dignity and respect; Effie and Haymitch were sitting at the other end of the table. Haymitch looked completely hammered and Effie was watching Rose and Saffron with obvious distaste. Zeph led me to the seat next too Katniss and he sat in the seat next to Peeta.
I just sat in my seat quietly not moving or doing well anything. I was frightened of everything at the moment. Suddenly a bowl of soup broke my revere.
"Here you should eat something." It was Katniss. I just looked at her confused.
"It's good; it's a personal favorite actually."
I looked at it for a minute then spooned a small bit into my mouth. She was right, it was really good. I got myself to get a few more spoonfuls, temporarily forgetting what has happened.
But of course that didn't last long.
"Well then, I think we should speak about strategy." Peeta said finally breaking the unbearable silence.
"Yes um good point Peeta." Katniss said wearily.
"Anyhow what are you all good at?" Peeta said curiously.
"Medicine." Rose said taking a second to stop inhaling the bread.
"Mace's." Saffron said not even looking up from her food. Everyone looked at her surprised, where the hell did she learn about maces? He turned towards Zeph.
"Im good with just about everything." He said. They looked at him skeptically.
"No I mean it. Swords, knives, spears, basically any type of weapon I have dealt with before." He said like it was no big deal or surprise.
"So not everything then, you are no good with plants, medicine, or camouflage?" Katniss said.
"No, I'm not that good with camo but I do know the basics, medicine im pretty good with, but plants again only basic."
Everyone was looking at him surprised. He just looked at us like it was no big deal.
"Dad is the mayor after all, he wanted us all prepared encase something like this happened. Why do you think im so muscular? I work with each weapon 1 hour a day everyday, for the past 10 years. Along with school I also tried to study medicines and plants. Medicines I was able to pick up easily but plants I could never understand and camo I learned I have little skill with…"
"Well what an interesting development!" Haymitch chuckled, seeming to sober up just a little bit.
"And what of you?" Katniss said turning to me. I just stared at her for a moment blankly before saying in a monotone voice.
"I'm good with knives and plants."
"Those will be helpful in the field, how is the camo?" I just glared at her wordlessly. She glared back, obviously not impressed by me.
"You are most likely lying. You probably have no useful skills what so ever. You dishonor that pin." She said.
That did it.
In a burst of speed I moved forward, grabbed the nearest knife and threw it straight through a tiny piece of bread in Saffron's hand. It continued until it stabbed into the chair, knocking it over. I grabbed another one and was about to throw it at Katniss when a strong warm hand grabbed my hand and prevented me from going any farther. I turned my head on Zeph who was shaking his head.
"You already proved yourself." I stared angrily at him for a moment and the urge to cry like I had when in the justice building and just after the train doors closed, returned to me in full force. He could see it in my eyes, the frustration and sadness. He could tell I was going to cry and damn it I needed too.
He let go of my hand and I dropped it, it clattering onto a plate. Without looking at any of them, I walked out of the room and into the next cab into a room labeled for the boy tributes. It was a medium sized cabin with a bunk bed and a small bathroom. There was also a small window showing the outside as the train passed it, there was also a medium sized flat screen TV built into the wall. Without even thinking about it I stripped off my shirt and pants, leaving me only in my tight dark green briefs. I crawled up into the top bunk and pulled the covers over my body, and then I stripped off my briefs and tossed those next to my clothes.
I almost always sleep in the nude except for when I am sharing a room, aka Zeph, but at that moment I just wanted atleast one small comfort. I pulled the covers just high enough so that it covered everything below my belly button; it was very hot in the cabin. I decided I would save crying for later in the night, I would have to do it quietly with Zeph being in here as well. Suddenly the cabin door opened to reveal Zeph.
"There you are…if you need to cry I suggest doing it now. Because you can't show everyone on screen that you are a scared." I glared at him for a moment.
"I planned on doing that tonight."
"What time?"
"Not sure yet."
"Well when you decided to let me know so I can help comfort you."
"Alright I won't do that."
"We'll see." He looked down at my heap of clothes then at me.
"Are you naked?"
"Ya, it's hot in here and I always sleep naked."
"What a coincidence so do I."
"huh." I said.
"hmmm." He hummed.
The suddenly without warning he stripped off his shirt and pants, leaving him only in tight black briefs similar to mine. I looked at him stunned and incredibly aroused. What the hell was he doing? He turned and locked the door. He looked up and smiled.
"Night!" he crawled into his bed below me, his briefs were suddenly thrown onto his pile of clothes and a fiery blush, that I was glad he couldn't see, appeared all over my body.
I laid on my back and waited until I could hear snoring…I figured I would cry after he was sleeping. I waited….and waited…..and waited….and waited. Soon there was no light coming from outside. I quietly leaned my head over the railing, making sure the covers still covered my lower half, and tried to look at Zeph. His arms were under his head and he had a bored expression on his face. He turned up to look at me and smiled.
"Hi." I frowned and returned to my previous position. I knew I wouldn't be able to hold the tears in for much longer. I leaned back down.
"Would you just go to bed already?"
"Not till you cry."
"That could be awhile."
"Please, I can tell you are resisting the urge to cry right now." I staggered for a moment.
"S-shut up."
"Jeez kid just cry so I don't have to worry about you doing it later. Plus I want to go to bed." Fuck it. I laid back down on my back and started to have a complete breakdown, one that was a long time coming. I heard Zeph fumbling with something below me while my body was rocked by sobs and pathetic whimpering.
Suddenly my covers were pulled back slightly and Zeph slipped into the bed with me. I was too busy crying to freak out; I would have to save that for later. He at least had the decency to put some pants on. I felt him pull some pants on my body then he pressed me against him and let me sob.
I think I started to really freak him out when the sobbing just got worse instead of better. I lasted a good hour before I finally tired myself out and I felt extremely dehydrated.
"Finally done?" he said curiously. I could hear the concern in his voice.
"Ya I think so." I said hoarsely.
"Alright then night." He said giving me a quick hug and starting to crawl down the little ladder. I quickly grabbed his hand causing him to look at me in surprise.
"N-no!" I said squeezing tighter. He stared at me for a minute then nodded in understanding. He crawled back into the bed with me and hugged me against him.
"Try to get some sleep." He mumbled stiffly. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
(Few hours later)
When I woke up I heard what sounded like rain. The train was still moving but it sounded like little droplets were bombarding the train. I could still feel Zeph's warm arm around me. It was soft and so warm. I twisted my head and he was fast asleep, looking peaceful. I stared at his face for a minute. There was just something about it that soothed me, made me feel happy and safe. Suddenly my stomach let out a horrible growl. I grabbed it with great displeasure. I guess it wasn't a big surprise that I was hungry, I barely ate anything besides that wonderful soup.
Against my better judgment, I crawled out of Zeph's hold and went down the bed quietly as to not wake him. I opened the door and looked left and right. The cabins were still lit up by electric lights but it was completely dark outside. The cabins were empty. Luck was on my side. That one cabin was still filled with fresh food. I quickly walked in and started piling up a plate with cheese, that soup, and pork. My plate quickly filled and I sat down and pigged out like I wanted too before. Though of course I didn't want to make a huge mess so I was careful to use a fork and spoon.
"You are very neat aren't you? Even when no one is around." I looked up at the door way and there stood Katniss with her arms crossed.
"Well I mean I don't want to make a huge mess for the servants." I said with a frown. She smiled.
"No I understand it's perfectly alright. You must be starving, please eat and ill do all the talking." She said gesturing towards the food. I quietly dug in and took a bit of the pork, which was delicious, and spooned in some of the soup, which was equally delicious.
"I wanted to talk to you privately anyway so I guess now would be a good time as any." She said. I looked up and nodded politely. She smiled.
"You are a very polite person aren't you?"
"Y-yes I am and about before…" she raised a hand, silencing me immediately.
"It's alright. I understand…you were just angry and sad and all sorts of emotions. I was like that as well when I was a tribute." I nodded again and took a bit of the cheese, damn was it good.
"Anyway that's not what I wanted to talk to you about. Before with the knife, I was very impressed. You have very good aim and power to back it up. You should have seen the girls, Saffron I believe, face! It was quite amusing and it definitely showed that you have talent." She said while I gripped onto every single word.
"So to get to the point, the boys normally work with the boy tributes while I work with the girls but I am going to be working with you boys. Peeta was alright with it but Haymitch refuses to work with girls, something about being unbearable and stubborn, so it would be me and Haymitch. I wanted to know if that would be alright with you."
I thought about everything she said and decided that her and Haymitch were definitely both brilliant and would be invaluable help. So the decision was a bit obvious.
"Of course!" I said. She smiled.
"Good. We start as soon as we get there. You are quite lucky. Cinna is going to be you and Zeph's stylist this year. He usually does the girls but I made a few calls and now he wants you two." She grinned.
"You so owe me." I couldn't help but smile. Even though she was in her twenties, she really reminded me of a teenager.
"I see you like the soup." She said with a grin as I sat up to get another bowl.
"It's amazing." I said sitting down with a new bowl. She got up and scooped herself a small cup full of the stuff then sat down closer to me. We both ate in silence for a few minutes before I finished. I sighed and patted my belly.
"So what is your relationship with Zeph?" she said sipping up a little more soup. I looked at her surprised.
"What?" the question had completely caught me off guard.
"I mean to say, how are you related? School? Outside activities? Lovers?" I blushed at the thought.
"N-no! Nothing like that! You see…" I looked around nervously, afraid someone would overhear.
"Don't worry we are completely alone." She said patting my hand and getting up to get us more soup.
"Well me and my grandparents are very poor and to get money we sell our strawberries with the mayor and his kids. Zeph sometimes is the one I trade with." I didn't mention how he watches out for me at school. I didn't see the importance in telling her about that. Same with the whole incident in the cabin.
"I see…you are so like me when I was your age." She said. She quickly shook her head.
"Anyway I was asking because you two seem, well, close. I can't explain it but you two just…fit. Ya know what I mean?" to show I didn't I gave her a blank stare and she sighed.
"Sorry im weird I know." She gave me my bowl and she sat back down and sipped the broth of the soup. We ate in silence.
"By chance did you catch the other tributes being picked?"
"No when I went to my room I guess I missed it."
"Hmm….you know you don't have to lie to me."
"W-what?" I said surprised.
"Hun I understand being cautious but look I just want to help you, but to do that you have to give me your full trust."
"Im not sure exactly what…"
"I saw the whole little scene in your cabin, with Zeph and the crying and the hugging." I stared at her shocked.
"Y-you spied on me?!?!"
"Look don't get mad. When you first got on you were a bit of a mystery to me. I needed to know how you acted with your partner. I didn't expect any of what happened…oh and by the way, your partner has a really nice ass." I blushed at the thought and quickly finished my soup. I sighed again.
"Im…im not sure exactly what that was." I said looking at her.
"I just…I just needed someone to hold me and make me feel better. And Zeph was so willing so…was it wrong of me?"
"No don't worry about it. I want you two close. The crowd loves it when partners are really close. It makes them more likable and lovable…in fact. That's the angle I want you two to have. When you two are on camera I want you two be inseparable. You two need to be close to each other…the best of friends…or lovers." I blushed for the umpteenth time that night. She smiled.
"We can tell Zeph all about our little plan tomorrow. You should go back to bed. Its…4 and you need all the rest you can get. Tomorrow's going to be a big day." I nodded and stood up and started to walk out.
"Wait one more thing." I turned.
"When Zeph is hugging you like that in bed when you are trying to sleep. Is it comfy?" I blushed a deep shade of red.
"Y-yes it is."
"Huh just curious, I have never been big for cuddling myself." I smiled
"Goodnight Katniss Everdeen and thank you."
"Goodnight Caden whateveryourlastnameis and your welcome."
I walked quietly into our cabin and locked the door. I crawled back into the bed and Zeph was still sleeping soundly. I tried to quietly crawl back into the covers but my hand jerked and smacked Zeph's stomach. He woke up surprised and looking around expectantly.
"I-im sorry!" I said hurriedly. He looked down at me tiredly but gave me a small smile.
"It's alright." he crawled back under the covers with me and yanked me closer to him.
"Hmmm you smell like soup." He chuckled.
"What have you been doing?" he asked without opening his eyes.
"I got something to eat." I said with a yawn. He chuckled.
"Good for you." He wrapped his large arm around me and we fell asleep. Him happily and me subconsciously worrying about tomorrow's prospects.
Well there ya go. Hope you liked it. Anyway I hope maybe, possibly, I could get a review? *puppy dog eyes* pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease? I been a good boy I swear! =P lol anywho please review and I hope you enjoyed it.
