Career Bonds

LabRat3000

Chapter 1: Career Bonds

It was time for the games to begin, but Cato wasn't ready. After seeing how Peeta felt about Katniss, he was determined not to let Peeta win his heart. Although, he was sure that Peeta had already done so.

The bloodbath was necessary, of course. Katniss got away. Peeta tried to escape too, but he turned around and decided to stay. He was avoiding Cato's gaze. It was a quick battle.

The six of them, Peeta, Clove, Glimmer, Marvel, District 3, and Cato collected the rewards. The boy from District 3 had set up some kind of trap around the supplies. The rest went out into the forrest to seek out some easy kills. Peeta soon saw a fire up ahead. After killing the girl, Cato saw an opportunity to talk to Peeta.

He volunteered himself and Peeta to stay back and collect the girl's things. "So, lover boy, are you really in love with her? Fire girl?" Cato asked. He checked the girl's pockets.

"Yes," was all Peeta said in response. He still wouldn't look at Cato. He grabbed their things and set off to join the others.


When the group discovered Katniss in the lake, most were over-thrilled. When she ran up the tree, Cato knew he could have followed her up. Of course, when he looked at Peeta, he saw nothing but fear.

He couldn't bear it. He couldn't bear seeing Peeta like this. He wouldn't hurt Peeta. He slipped on purpose. He was upset when Peeta suggested waiting Katniss out, but he didn't object.

After Cato woke up, he knew something was wrong. There was buzzing. Realizing that these were Tracker Jackers, he grabbed Peeta and ran. When everyone alive was back at the Cornucopia, Peeta ran back. Cato ran after.

"Peeta! Peeta! You'll be killed! She's probably dead anyway! Don't go! Don't leave me!" screamed Cato after he trips on a tree root.

Peeta wouldn't listen. He just kept running. "Go! Katniss! Get out of here!" He yelled. Cato soon caught up to find Katniss walking away. He could have killed her, but he wouldn't.

"Why?" was all Cato asked Peeta. He dropped his sword on the ground and put his hands up in defense. "Why?"

"I love her!" Peeta yelled in response. He glared at Cato.

"Why? Why can't you love me? Why doesn't anyone love me?" Cato asked as he sat down on a rock. His picked up some pebbles and threw them angrily. The first one bounced off a tree, and the second one dented an acorn.

Peeta sat next to him. He tilted Cato's head so that he could look him straight in the eyes. "That's not true. It's just, I shouldn't love you. I know I would, but we can't both win."

"Neither can you and Katniss!" argued Cato.

"I'm not talking about the Hunger Games!" yelled Peeta. He grabbed a big rock and knocked Cato out. "I know I shouldn't love you, but I can try, for you." With those words, he kissed Cato.

He used some rope and Cato's sword and eventually cut his leg. He wobbled away as Cato was just waking up. Cato only got a glimpse of the wound that Peeta inflicted on himself. He grabbed his sword and went back to the Cornucopia.

When he got back, Cato told the rest of the Careers that he cut Peeta. He couldn't afford looking weak, or else he'd die. They would have killed him.

That night Cato couldn't sleep. Every time he closed his eyes he saw Peeta with his injury. When he did finally fall asleep, he dreamt of Peeta running away to Katniss. He dreamt of them winning together, getting married, and living happily ever after. The only thing that kept him asleep was the smile on Peeta's face.


When he heard the announcement that two tributes from the same district could win, Cato was devastated. He kew that this was just another way for Peeta's love for Katniss to develop. He had Clove, but she wasn't Peeta. She wasn't what his entire brain had clung to.


Cato couldn't believe it. Clove had died. He had killed Thresh, and now the only people left were Katniss, Peeta, and him. Peeta had hopefully recovered. He knew that medicine was probably what Katniss got.

While thinking of Peeta, Cato was oblivious to the horrid smelling beast looking straight at him. It stood on two legs and had Clove's brown eyes.

After hearing its bark, Cato ran. He ran to the Cornucopia, he ran right past Peeta and Katniss (Who tried shooting him), and they climbed. He hugged Peeta as quickly as possible. Peeta shot him a look that reminded him that they were still in the arena. He turned Peeta over and put him in a headlock. "Act like you can't breath." he whispered.

When Katniss noticed, she immediately aimed for Cato.

"Shoot me, and lover boy goes down too."

"Don't shoot!" Peeta screamed while pretending he was out of breath. "Put me down!" He continued.

Katniss lowered her bow, and Cato released Peeta. Katniss eyed them both, but, like Cato, she trusted Peeta. "Look, all three of us are victims here. I'm sure you never wanted to kill anyone, right Katniss? We've all changed, but we can't let ourselves change anymore. We're all in this together, right?"

"Peeta's right, Katniss. I don't want to kill either of you, but someone's got to die. If I die, then both of you live." Cato concluded.

He was about to step off and fall into the pack of mutts, but Katniss shouted for him to stop. "I have and idea." She took out the berries that Peeta had gathered and accidentally killed Foxface with.

Peeta and Cato shared one last gaze into each others eyes before they joined Katniss.

"1... 2-"

"STOP! Congratulations to Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, and Cato DeBeau. You are the winners of the 74th Annual Hunger Games!"

With that last announcement, they all dropped the berries. Katniss was the first to faint. Peeta followed. Cato caught Peeta as he himself felt abnormally tired.