A/N: Hey guys! I appreciate the reviews to those of you who did! I hope you liked the correctly spaced chapter. I worked really hard on it! Well, I now have a beta, so hopefully my chapters will be better edited! Anyway, there is a tiny bit of fluff in this chapter as Cato and Katniss start to realize their feelings. Hehe. :D thanks! Oh, my Beta is " erza scarlet the titania " so go follow her and read her stories! :) ok off to the story!
Cato POV
The first thing I see when my pedestal rises is Katniss, looking.. quiet girly I must say. She's wearing a beautiful dress to her knees that fits smoothly to every curve in her body, showing it off in a way so natural that it's almost like the dress was made for her. Well, it probably was.
Her stylist is brilliant- the tribute parade, the interviews, and now... This. His creations are made perfectly to describe her emotions and all her make-up and her hair done just right, she looked breathtaking. The cheers and whoops of the Capitol audience disrupted my thoughts.
I looked out at them disgusted. Sick, cruel people look at us with eyes of envy, awe, and lust. Their victorS. That's right, two of us. We outsmarted them. But, we aren't safe just yet. It's the beginning of a whole new game.
Katniss POV
After I get past the blinding lights and cheering capitolites, I saw Cato- standing there in all his glory. Dashing as ever, some would say. He's wearing a black button-up shirt with black trousers and a golden jacket. The suit complements his golden hair tremendously and it's makes his blue eyes shine. The shirt is dangerously close-fit to his body. You can almost see all of his muscles.
Broad shoulders that are almost perfect. His chin is usually sharp but today it seems like it's shaped just right. His blue eyes, the ones that remind me of Peeta's, sparkle while he looks at me. His eyes are colder then Peeta's- almost like ice. But, his eyes complement his personality and their is a strange sense of warmth behind them. His golden hair is spiked perfectly and by the way his muscles are showing almost every girl in the room would want to melt and- wait.
WHAT AM I SAYING?!
I mentally slap myself for being so shallow. How could I think that? Ugh, I blame hormones. I look at him and he's smiling to me. A smile back and feel heat rise to my cheeks. What was going on with me tonight? As we walked towards each other, I couldn't help but notice that his jacket matched my dress... Strange...
Cato POV
I see her surveying me head to toe as I survey her. I suddenly feel warmth rise to my cheeks. What was happening? I didn't stop to think as we both broke out in grins and started walking to each other.
Screw walking. We both started running and she launched into my arms as I buried my face in her neck.
We stayed in each other's arms for awhile just taking in each others scents. We stay in the powerful embrace until Caesar taps my shoulder.
"Erm- Cato, Katniss, we have a show to put on," he says grinning devilishly
Katniss stutters and blushes but I try to keep a level head and just nod. We walk to our seat,which is just one love seat now instead of the Victor's throne, holding hands. Not in any personal affection, but she squeezes my hand hard and I squeeze back reassuringly. We are each other's anchors right now, I realize. I couldn't make it through this without her. And, she couldn't make it through this without me.
Katniss POV
Caesar eyes our hands suspiciously but doesn't say anything. He says something along the line of replays but I blocked it out because in dreading this moment. Three hours of reliving the games. I already went through it once. I don't want to go through it again. But, Cato squeezes my hand and I immediately feel better.
3...
2...
1...
And here, the worst three hours of my life begin. I mean, I went through the games and it was a tough time - but, seeing twenty-two kids dying gruesomely is even worse. I didn't see all them die, or the helpless looks on their faces.. I see Rue die and it shows me singing and covering her with flowers. I begin to cry but Cato squeezes my hand and uses his other to wipe the tears away, secretly where no one sees. Who new he was that nice?
Then, it shows Clove dying and I feel Cato go rigid. I squeeze his hand reassuringly and then bump his shoulder with mine. He smiles a shy smile of gratitude but then he stops and looks at the screen. It's the cornucopia... With the mutts below.
Cato POV
As I watch Katniss and Peeta in the cave, I feel a twinge in my heart. What is that? Is that.. Jealousy? No. I dismiss the thought and continue watching. Later, we get to the cornucopia with me holding Peeta. Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no. I look at Katniss nervously and she seems fine. Until I give my "heroic", as I called in my mind back then- man I was disgusting, speech. Then it showed me snapping Peeta's neck.
That's when she lost it. Her hand went limp in mine and I tried to rub her arm with mine to get her to stop shaking but she just bumped me back. Hard. Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. I thought again. She hates me. HATES me. And, we still have the interview to go through. I'm reminded of all this when Caesar looked at us and the lights turned on. But.. Her hand seemed alive now and it was clenching mine tightly. Weird..
Katniss POV
He killed Peeta. That's all that went through my mind when I saw it. Then I realized it, I'm sitting here- holding hands with Peeta's murderer. Holding hands . I wonder what he would think now. I feel Cato rub against me and I just shoulder him as hard as I can without making it noticeable . I feel him wince and feel a twinge of regret as I see the hurt in his eyes.
I look at the screen and see him refuse to kill me. I realize - he's changed. The games change you, and they changed him, in a better way. I sigh and realize there's no use in being mad if he is a different person now. I smile to myself as I see us wi and then squeeze his hand again. I hope he gets my message. I'm really not mad.
Caesar starts the questions as soon as the video ends and I just let Cato answer, and occasionally answer with "I am really glad to go home," or "I miss Prim and can't wait to see her."
A certain question arouses me from my trance though.
"So," Caesar asks nonchalantly, "what is the latest news forming between your relationship?" He asks with a quirk. I almost choke on my own spit. Hmm, I think sarcastically, that sounded attractive.
"W-what?" I ask, feeling the blush creep up on my cheeks as I look and see Cato blushing as well.
"Well it's quite obvious." He grins winningly.
"Katniss and I are just friends, that's why we wouldn't kill each other. We couldn't kill anyone else and just couldn't kill each other. That's why, we are just friends. That's all we'll ever be." He says with finality.
My heart pinches for some reason. Oh well, what Cato said was true and that's it. I think. Wait, it's true I know it.
"All we will ever be." I say backing him up and nodding.
Cato POV
I feel my heart break a little inside when she says that with so much seriousness that nobody could doubt it. I don't know why. I don't like her. Well, I do... As a friend. I like her as a friend.
"Aww, that's to bad," Caesar winks "but we will just see what happens." He grins and I want to punch that grin off of his face. I see Katniss blush and feel a little heat creeping in my cheeks as well. Shit.
"Well... Ladies and Gentleman," he says standing up " may I present to you the winners of the 74th Annual Hunger Games.. Cato Larek AND Katniss Everdeen!"
Katniss POV
Cato and I say goodbye, but before he leaves I give him a quick hug, despite the Capitol people staring, and head off to my floor. When I got there I found a mess of broken bottles, and the smell of whiskey.
"Ohhhh," says a slurred voice I immediately recognize -Haymitch, "you finally decided to show up, sweetheart." He says pointedly. I stare at him; shocked by the disgust in his voice.
"Ugh... Haymitch? What's up with you? Your extra drunk.." I say pointlessly, looking down.
"Oh, don't be so innocent. You know you are just SO great. Miss Innocent. Running around holding hands and making lovey-dovey faces at the very boy who KILLED HIM!" He starts screaming and I immediately realize who he is talking about. "HE KILLED HIM KATNISS! SNAPPED HIS NECK RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES! I SAW YOU ON THE STAGE, YOU JUST FORAVE HIM IN A HEARTBEAT! YOU SHOWED NO REMORSE, NO NOTHING! AND NOW, I HEAR YOU ARE STARTING RUMORS OF BEING IN LOVE?!
"NO KATNISS DON'T EVEN TRY TO CONTRADICT ME. YOUR IN OVER YOUR HEAD. YOU FORGAVE HIM SO EASILY! HE KILLED HIM... He killed him.." He finishes off his roaring tirade and leaves me speechless. He was right about some aspects, but love? No. That's not it. No, it can't be. And besides, it's probably just some Capitol hoax.
"No," I say but it barely chokes out, " no, no, no. People change in the games Haymitch. You know that better than anyone. You told me that yourself . But here you are, judging Cato. Judging me for Christ's sake! What did I do? I did what you told me to! I didn't do anything wrong!" I say this trying not to burst into tears. I don't know what, but something inside me changed during the games. Something that kept me together my whole life. I just don't know.
Haymitch then proceeds to burst into sobs and I am astonished.
"I... I'm sorry," he says softly, " when you have to mentor two kids every year just to see them die, it takes a tole. But, you two seemed like you would make it... He didn't though... I can't blame either of you for this, but I know who to blame..."
He sighs and I know he's talking about the Capitol. He decides to go back to his room and gets up.
"I'm sorry Katniss, I just... We all miss him- you know that. I'm sorry.. I just... He made us all feel welcome... No that's not the word... He was... Amazing. A truly amazing person. And that doesn't even describe him." Haymitch rambles on.
"No, he was more than that. I can't even put it into words," I reply bitterly, " he was the best out of all of us. So kind, gentle, nice, and caring. He never hurt another human being ever. He should have won."
"Sadly, people like that never win the games. Never." He sighs, shakes his head and places a drunken kiss on my forehead and walks off to his room mumbling about Effie and her 'damn rules' about 'no drinking past 2 AM'. Like Haymitch would really follow those, I think rolling my eyes. I laugh and smile as he walks down the hall. Effie may be bird-brained, but she is quite lovable. I smile and walk to the elevator to go up to the roof. I need some fresh air.
Cato POV
When I get to my floor, Brutus and Enoboria won't even talk to me. Turns out I'm not like by our district for not killing Katniss. They now think I'm weak. And, I guess my mentors do to. I change into a simple black T-Shirt, grey sweat pants, and some slider flip flops with socks and decide to go up to the roof.
I walk up there and notice a figure sitting on the edge. I smile and walk over to her and sit down next to her. She turns her head to look at me and smiles.
"Hey." she says simply.
"Hey," I reply smiling "you ok? You seem riled up."
"Yeah." is all she replies looking out the window. I know something is up. Her eyes aren't as bright as they were earlier and her tone of voice is saddened.
"No your not," I sigh " it's because of me isn't it?"
"No, it's not a actually. I'm just thinking. I have been. Something changed in me inside the games.. Something important, like my whole life depends on it. It's like anew me is born from the old... Like I'm rising out of the ashes. I don't know what's missing. I don't know why I feel that way but it does." She smiles shyly and smiles.
Wow. She is gifted in speaking as well as looks. I love her smile... It suits her perfectly.
"You are amazing," I say dazed. She blushes profusely. Then I realize I am to. What did I just say? Did I really say that out loud? Oh shit.
"Thanks. You are to." She smiles. "I'm kind of upset though," she looks down " Haymitch yelled at me about Peeta... He said I changed and I am leading every one on.. Leading them on about what I don't know though..."
"I know how it is to lose your district partner," I look down sighing and decide to trust her with this information " Clove was like my little sister... She may have been sadistic and obsessed with knives.. But I still loved her like a sister; I miss her so much.."
I look at the Capitol off the edge of the roof and I feel Katniss's eyes on me. I look into her eyes and see pain. And then I want to make her pain go away. I don't know why but in an instant I lean down and pull my face to hers and peck her lips softly.
That peck was better than all the make-out sessions with other girls combined. I felt a spark. A connection. She looks to stunned to speak so I stand up to go.
I turn and look at her one last time.
"I-I'm so sorry." I whisper and run off to my room and slam the door shut. When I get in, I lock it and then bury my head in my pillow in my bed. I groan into it. Oh shit. What the fuck did I do? Needless to say I didn't get any sleep that night.
Katniss POV
The kiss was amazing. So much better than any of my kisses with Peeta. There was more warmth. More control, more fire, more passion, more love... And it was just a peck.
I think of Peeta. Did I just betray him? Did I hurt him somehow? What happened? Why did Cato do that? I manage to get to the couch in the living room on our floor before bursting into tears. The sobs started to wrack my body and my eyes became clouded and blurry from the tears. I finally realized what it is I'm missing.
Now I only have myself. I don't have to be strong anymore. I don't need to protect anyone. These past years, I've been hiding my emotions behind a mask, but now I can let them roam freely to break down, and that's exactly what I do.
I cry for Prim. Poor Prim, in all her innocence, got reaped. I cry for Peeta, who died trying to save me from the boy I just kissed. I shudder through the tears remembering how good it felt. I cry for Cato, because he was brainwashed and hurt since he was a little child. Now I cry because our mother left us when my father died.
Dad. Now a fresh wave of sobs wracks my body. I cry for my father. I realized, I never cried for his death. I didn't cry at his dedication service because I had to be strong. But now, I cry vehemently. I realize I miss him. I miss him so much. So I cry for him, over and over again- shaking all the while.
I don't know how long I cry for but suddenly I'm being carried to my room and am laid down on my bed. I'm tucked in and look up just in time to see Haymitch walking out of my room. He shuts the door and I cry even more. I'm so confused and my emotions are running wild right now. All I know is that my kiss with Cato was amazing, and I loved it. I feel so guilty. I cried myself to sleep that night.
A/N: How do you like Haymitch and Katniss relationship forming? (Not love but father and daughter kind of thing) And how 'bout Cato? Hehe:) one last thing, how did you guys like multiple POV's?:) Review! Thanks!:)
~CatonissKatoKatonissLover