Christine grabbed a small blanket, tip-toed to the back of the cave, glanced over her shoulder at the sound-asleep Cato, and slipped out of the cave, into the cool night air. She hiked up the hill, jogged down to the brook and set down the blanket. She looked around, listening to see if she could hear anything, except the wind whistling through the trees. Hearing nothing, Christine proceeded to strip down to her bare skin. Shivering slightly, she stuck her big toe into the water, checking the temperature. To her surprise, the water was mildly warm. With a sigh, she submerged herself in the brook. She released a string of air bubbles and let them fly through the water to the surface. She stared up through the water at the world above her. Closing her eyes, Christine rose up to the surface of the water and gasped in the crisp, clean air around her. Shaking her head to rid the extra water from it. Breathing smoothly, Christine began to pour the water over her body, rubbing away the dirt that clung to her pale skin. Upon leaning forward, Christine ran her fingers threw her hair, rinsing it out in the water.
"Ahem!" A voice said behind her. Christine dove for the knife that she had hidden inside of one of the boulders behind her. She whipped around and saw Cato, leaning up against a tree. He smiled.
"Damn it Cato!" Christine gasped. "Don't do that!" Cato laughed. He pushed himself off of the tree with his shoulder and walked over to the water. Looking down at Christine, he walked into the brook - fully clothed.
"Cato what are you -"
"Just taking a swim." Cato said. "I like to be clean too, you know?" Christine giggled and pushed against Cato's chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
"We haven't done it here yet... Have we?" Cato asked, smirking.
"Not yet..." Christine answered back. Kissing him slowly on the lips. Letting him slide his tongue deep into her mouth. Christine sighed and began to pull Cato's shirt off. He complied, yanked it over his head, and let Christine push down his pants. Christine became curious. Cato had managed to find every one of her pleasure spots, but she hadn't been able to locate all of his. Christine glanced up into his eyes. She placed her hands on Cato's chest, leant forward, and kissed him again. She opened her mouth and closed it. Breathing him in. She loved the way he tasted. She loved it so much that she wanted more. So she began kissing, licking, and biting every bit of him that she could. Standing on her toes, she grabbed onto Cato's hair, pulling his head back as she kissed his neck, making her way down. Christine stayed around Cato's chest, then inched her way down his body to his stomach. Cato seemed to like this. For at that moment, he let out a small moan. His eyes shut tight and his mouth agape. Christine smiled and licked around Cato's abdomen. As she was doing this, she ran her hand down Cato's body, and touched him in between his legs. When she did this, Cato moaned again, but louder this time. Christine grinned and moved back up to his mouth. Sliding her tongue across his bottom lip. Cato snarled in frustration, grabbed onto the back of Christine's leg, and pushed his body up against hers. The next thing that she knew, he was inside of her again. Cato was moving through her harder and deeper than ever before. He stared into her eyes. Never looking away. Even when Christine closed her eyes and cried out as he pushed extra hard, baring his teeth. The water splashed around them. Masking the sweat dripping from both of their bodies. Christine felt more pleasure here with Cato, then she had ever felt before in her life. She guessed that this might be true for Cato too, as he groaned again and pinned her to the wall of rocks behind her. Christine was becoming hot. Too hot to bare.
"Get-in-the-water!" She gasped out. Cato did as she said. He turned with her still connected to him, and laid her down on her back, in the water. Christine sighed as the water (which was cold compared to how hot she was) formed around her body. Cato grabbed onto her leg and raised it higher so that it was laid across his back. Christine raised her arms above her head and stretched out her back -making a sharp pain shoot up through her spine. Mixed with the pain from her back and the pleasurable pain that Cato was giving her, Christine cried out in both pain and ecstasy. Cato was breathing deeply as he pushed harder and harder. Suddenly, he released from Christine. She gasped in surprise. Cato moved back up onto his knees, grabbed Christine's thighs, - Christine quickly wrapped her legs around Cato and propped herself up onto her elbows - and he pulled her to him. Christine almost screamed as Cato pulled her back and forth from him. Holding onto her waist and then hips for control. Christine couldn't hold herself up on her elbows anymore. Her arms were becoming tired. So she laid back down. Raising her arms above her head again. She shut her eyes. Her mouth open wide. Christine was emanating loud whimpers. Cato held onto her with one hand. The other ran from below Christine's bellybutton up to the middle of her chest. He proceeded to grope her chest. Christine moaned. Biting her lip, she begun to rotate her hips. Pushing hard, up against Cato's groin. Cato let out a breathy laugh. Christine reached her hand down and lightly traced her finger nails against Cato's stomach and ran them up and down his abs. At that moment, Cato pulled Christine up to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and curled her fingers up into his hair. Cato pushed up and down. This position seemed to be more work for him. So Christine took control.
"Get down!" She breathed. Cato collapsed into the water. It splashed over his face as Christine fell on top of him.
"Get back on!" Cato said harshly, his hands on Christine's hips.
"Give me a second!" Christine laughed. She leaned in and kissed Cato as hard as she could. She slid her tongue into his mouth and lightly bit down on his lower lip; as he stuck his tongue into her mouth too. They sucked on each other's tongues for a few minutes. Their bodies weren't even connected. They just lay there kissing, as the cool water lapped at their hot bodies.
"Christine" Cato murmured into her ear. Christine rubbed her body against Cato's. She had moved to his neck again.
"Cato..." Christine whispered against his skin. Cato was beginning to breath quickly.
"Are you ready?" He whispered. Running his hand down Christine's side, down to her hind-end. Christine began breathing quickly too.
"Are you kidding?" She giggled. Cato moved so quickly, that Christine felt dazed for a moment. He scooped her up into his arms and carried her over to the grass. He placed her down on the flattest, most smooth bit of grass there, and began kissing her all over her body. Christine giggled as Cato took her leg in his hands and began kissing it. Slowly making his way up to her chest. Leaving behind a couple of bite marks here and there. Cato stopped at Christine's chest. He still had her leg in his hand, which he held behind him. He began kissing her breasts. Christine moaned and grabbed onto his hair, guiding him. Cato still had a hold of Christine's leg. And a few minutes later, Christine realized what Cato was about to do. Cato was still kissing her breasts, when he entered her. Pulling her leg higher over his shoulder. Christine cried out. Cato was holding her in such a position that she didn't know how to react to his body. She just laid there in painful pleasure. Her body seized up a few times as Cato worked his way through her. Until, Christine's body seized up once more, and both she and Cato fell back, moaning. After a few minutes of breathy laughter and kissing, they made their way back to the cave.
"So..." Christine said, stroking Cato's face. "I was always told that you were this complete psycho who wasn't capable of any feeling...and yet...here we are?" Cato smiled slightly.
"Yeah... well I never had much of a choice with the way I was brought up." Christine frowned.
"What do you mean? I mean...I know that you were brought up as a killing machine...but weren't you ever like...I don't know...hugged? ... told that you are loved?" Cato laughed.
"In my house? With my father? He never would have allowed it. Besides...my mother was never the most caring of mothers..." He trailed off. His face looked broken and hurt. Christine felt bad for even asking. And before she could say anything else, Cato spoke. "When I was 12, my father and this other boy's father got into an argument about who would make it out of the games alive if the other one's son was in the games. It came down to them making a bet on who would win this fight. So he had me fight the kid...all of the parents knew about the fight and came to see who would make it out..." Cato stopped for a moment, due to the horrified look on Christine's face. Then looking away from her, he continued. "The kid was a few years older than me... he looked about 16. He was weak...a lot weaker than me. And I was a decent height and weight back then, so I took him out with one punch...and when the kid was unconscious on the ground...my father then had me finish him off with a nearby rock to the head-" Cato stopped again. But not because of the look on Christine's face. But because he had become choked up. Christine practically launched herself into Cato's arms, wrapping hers around him.
"I'm so sorry Cato! I can't believe anyone would do that to their own son!" Cato coughed and continued.
"I felt the blood splatter across my face... and...and my father won the bet. I watched as he gathered the winnings...I watched as the father picked up his dead son and carried him over to the crying mother...all the time, my father was laughing. He then yelled at me to go clean up...to go and get the blood off of me before dinner."
"Stop!" Christine squeaked. "Enough! That's enough Cato!" Christine had tears streaming down her cheeks as she listened to Cato's story. "Enough...it's okay."
"No... it's not okay... none of this is okay." Cato snapped. "I don't want it to come down to you and me Christine!"
"I know Cato but I-I don't know what other choice we have!"
"NO!" Cato snarled. He practically threw Christine from him as he got up.
"I hate this!" He screamed. Christine just lay there on the ground where Cato had pushed her. She stared up at him as he cursed.
"You!" He pointed to Christine. "You of all people!"
"What?" Christine asked, bewildered.
"Why did you volunteer for this?" Cato snapped. Almost yelling again.
"What-I-" Christine couldn't say anything. She was so surprised by Cato's sudden outburst. Cato cursed again and rushed over to her. Picking her up by the shoulders, as he stared into her face.
"Why the fuck did you ask to be here!" Cato snarled at her. Christine didn't know what to do. She suddenly felt even more scared than she had been when the games had first started.
"You don't deserve this, Christine!" Cato said. "You don't deserve me! I'm nothing! I'm dead! I always have been! But you...you could win this thing! You-"
"NO!" Christine was now fighting back her tears as she stared up at Cato. "Just stop! You're wrong Cato! I do deserve you! And you damn well deserve me! So just stop!" Cato's face went blank. He seemed to realize what he was doing. Placing Christine back down, he looked down at the ground.
"I'm a killer... you shouldn't even be near me..."
"Ugh! Cato! You are so-you're such an...You asshole!" Cato's face shot up at Christine.
"What?" He asked. Hurt and anger flashing over his face.
"You asshole! I love you! Don't you get it? I love you damn it!" And with that, Christine grabbed onto Cato's shirt, and yanked him to her. Their lips pressed together and moved in unison. Cato wrapped his arms around Christine, his hands clutching her shoulder blades. Christine opened her mouth, gasped for air, and then kissed him again. Chest to chest, Christine could feel Cato's heart racing. He moved from her lips to her throat, as he backed her into the wall. For the second time that day, they made love. It was slower than anything they had done before. There seemed to be unspoken words between them. They both knew that the end was near...so they made the best of it. They explored each other's bodies more carefully. Cato whispered loving words into Christine's ear. They held on to each other as if it were the last time they would even touch one another. Christine stared up into Cato's eyes and he stared into hers. Cato touched her face delicately. Christine smiled and kissed his palm, then placed it lightly on her cheek. She stared up at Cato as he leaned into her and kissed her lovingly on the lips. Then he whispered something into her ear that was barely audible.
"What?" Christine breathed.
"I love you." Christine's heart skipped a beat.
"Christine?" Cato whispered. "I love you..."
"Yes!" Christine gasped out. "I love you too." She laughed. "I love you!" Cato pulled back from her. He only smiled.
"Christine? Can I ask you something?"
"Yes?" Christine said, propping herself up onto her elbow and cupping her cheek.
"If we were able to both go back..." Cato said, swallowing. "Would you-" He stopped as a voice boomed outside.
"Congratulations to the six remaining tributes! There has been a rule change...both tributes from the same district,will be declared winners if they are the last two alive!" Christine and Cato sat there in silence. They both looked at each other, wide eyed. Then a grin started spreading across Cato's face.
"Both tributes..." Christine said.
"From the same district..." Cato finished. They yelled at the same time and Christine leaped onto Cato, pushing him back onto the floor.
"We could win! We could go home!" She yelped. She and Cato laughed then kissed.
The next morning, Cato got up and started getting dressed.
"Where are you going?" Christine asked him. As she stood up, she folded a blanket around her naked body.
"Hunting." Cato said blankly.
"But we have enough food to last us a while longer." Christine looked at Cato confusedly. He gave her a cold look and grabbed his sword that was leaning up against the wall.
"Oh." Christine said, understanding. "That kind of hunting... can I come? Or- or are you going to make me stay again?" Cato walked over to Christine and kissed her.
"Yes. I don't want to lose sight of you and have what happened before - happen again. Just stay here and I'll be back." He said, leaning his forehead against Christine's. She nodded then hugged Cato. She held onto him as tightly as she could.
"Please make sure that you really do come back." She said, her voice muffled as her face was buried in Cato's chest.
"I will." He said smiling. "Just one last thing..."
"What?" Christine looked up at him. Cato pulled back from her. Then yanked the blanket away from around her body, kissed her as he pinched her thigh, and turned quickly.
"HEY!" Christine squeaked. Cato laughed as he darted out of the cave. Christine mimed kicking him and then bent down to pick up the blanket. She sighed as she walked over to the bedding area and sat down.
"He loves me." She whispered to herself, smiling. Christine curled up on top of the sleeping bag and closed her eyes. She was still worried about Cato, but trusted that he would get back safe. With the thought of the past few weeks with Cato on her mind, Christine fell asleep with a smile on her face.
"Christine! Christine wake up!" Christine jolted awake and Cato had to lean back to avoid her.
"Cato!" Christine cried out. "You came back! Oh, thank God!"
"I told you I would..." Cato smiled strangely at her.
"What?" Christine asked.
"Oh, nothing...just..." He looked down at Christine. She glanced down and realized what Cato was smirking at.
"Oh, stop it!" She giggled.
"What?" Cato asked, looking innocent. Christine rolled her eyes.
"It's not like you haven't seen me naked before!" She wiggled her upper body and smiled.
"Yeah...but..." Cato continued. "I still like to look." He leaned forward and held Christine's face in his hands. She smiled wryly. She tilted up her head and kissed Cato. Christine then suddenly felt something wet on her neck. She drew back quickly and raised her hand to her neck. When she drew it away, she saw red.
"So...who's is it?" She asked Cato seriously. He looked down at the blood.
"Thresh mostly..." Christine grimaced.
"Who else got it?"
"Well..." Cato smirked. "Another one... dunno who he was... and Clove is dead."
"Really?" Christine asked, surprised. "Who killed her?"
"Thresh." Cato answered, looking at the blood on Christine's neck.
"Well at least there are a couple less to deal with." Christine said, trying to sound pleased.
"I know you hate it." Cato said. "But we have to kill everyone."
"I know, I know." Christine turned from Cato, wiping away the blood on her neck.
"Look..." Cato said. "I have a feeling that this will all be over soon! There are only three tributes left... apart from us!" Christine perked up at these words.
"There are? I've lost count..."
"Yeah! Now it's just you, me, that red headed girl-"
"Me?" Christine laughed.
"No the other one!" Cato scowled at Christine. "Anyway!"
"Sorry." Cato continued.
"You, me, the redhead, Lover Boy, and the Everdeen girl."
"Oh... so they're still alive?" Christine asked.
"Yeah...that girl is getting on my nerves! And her boyfriend kept me from killing her."
"Well I would hope that you would protect me from some crazy guy who was trying to kill me!"
"Oh, I'm crazy am I?" Cato asked, grinning evilly. Christine laughed uncertainly.
"Well, we'll see about that!" Christine screamed playfully as Cato scooped her up into his arms and swung her around, before falling back onto the blankets. She had her hands wrapped tightly around his neck.
"You need a bath!" Christine said teasingly.
"I do?"
"Yup! You kind of have that thing on you...you know...all the blood." Cato rolled his eyes.
"Fine. But you're coming with me!"
"Make me." Christine said challengingly. Cato sneered.
"If you say so." Cato picked up Christine and was about to walk over to the exit door, when they heard two things. A cannon fire, then someone yelling. Both Christine and Cato froze.
"PEETA!" A voice from outside the cave called. "PEETA, WHERE ARE YOU?" Christine looked up at Cato and mouthed 'Katniss'. Cato quietly set Christine down on the ground. He walked over to his sword, slowly removed it from where it rested against the wall, and swiftly made his way to the front of the cave. She tip-toed over to where Cato was standing, looking through the small hole in the entrance. And sure enough, Katniss Everdeen was walking out of the tree's, moving quickly, but surely over the rocks in front of the cave.
"Cato, don't!" Christine hissed under her breath. Because Cato was about to push past the small opening that was only visible inside the cave.
"What?" He whispered.
"You have no element of surprise! If you burst out of here now, she'll just shoot you in the head!" Cato scowled down at her. But Christine knew that he knew that she was right.
"Fine." He said curtly and pulled back. He and Christine watched Katniss run past the cave and over the hill to their left.
"You'll have your chance soon." Christine said in a normal tone.
"Hmm." Cato grimaced.
"Come on...we can't go outside now. Who knows exactly where Peeta really is." Cato nodded.
"Then let's get some rest. Come on..." Cato took Christine's hand in his, replaced his sword to it's usual resting place, and lead Christine over to the blankets. There they curled up under the covers. Christine lay warmly in Cato's arms as he kissed her on the top of her head. Christine sighed quietly and closed her eyes.