Here's the next chapter!
Again thank you all for the reviews, this is definately my most reviewed story!
I love you all, and that pretty much sums up everything I could say in this thing.
Fudge the Disclaimer.
The Boy in Love
Naruto blinks, when Katniss storms by the sitting room, wincing when he hears her door slam.
And then he sits, takes a sip of his water, and then closes his eyes...
Finally a sigh escapes him.
Oh boy, what did she do now? Naruto thought, but inwardly he really didn't want to know.
Did he ever tell you keeping someone alive is harder than it looks?
He didn't... Well it's harder than it looks.
After a million different scenerios flashed through his mind, Naruto decided to go with the best thing he could do in a situation like this...
He stayed in his seeat.
No way in hell was he going to try to calm down a pissed off/emotionally upset woman... especially when that woman was Katniss.
But then silent sobs were head from her room, ans slowly his mental wall began to crumple.
Damn it.
With a heave Naruto stood up, and his head down, as he muttered incoherent thing under his breath. He excused himself from the room, slowly walking towards Katniss' bedroom. Even without his ninja-awesome-memory he would've known which way to go, being there so many times...
Naruto pressed his ear to her door, before knocking twice. "Katniss?"
Her reply was immediate, "Go away!"
He knocked again.
"Naruto. Go. Away!"
"Not until you unlock the door." he yelled.
"Well then you'll be waiting out there a long time."
Naruto dead-panned, slowly raising his foot, "Katniss open the door."
"No."
He brought his leg back. "Katniss."
"Naruto."
The sole of his shoe now rested on the door. "Final warning."
He heard a sigh, "Naruto please—"
He then brought his foot forward, successfully knocking the door off its hinges.
At the loud noise the Girl on Fire immediately sat up her hunter reflexes activating, an angry expression appearing on her face.
"N-Naruto!?" she said her eyes wide, "Why the hell did you knock down my door!?"
"Why the hell are you locking yourself up again." Naruto replied, before making his way over to her bed, taking special care to stay over a leaps length away. "What's up, why're crying this time?"
Katniss glared at him, her gray eyes blazing with defiance... and then she sighed, seeing no way out she told him the truth, "I shot the Gamemakers."
"… I'm sorry I think I misheard you can you repeat that?"
"I shot the Gamemakers."
"…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Pfffff!" Naruto laughed, throwing his head back, as he held his sides, "You're serious!?" he guffawed. "You're fucking serious!? Why didn't you tell me sooner I would've killed to see it!"
"W-Why are you laughing don't you realize that—"
"It doesn't matter?" Naruto smirked. "They're just scores Katniss, sometimes surprise can be your greatest weapon."
"Bu—"
"And besides what can they do?' Naruto chuckled, "Take it out on me or you—too late for that, they already did."
Katniss' mouth opened then closed… opened then closed.
"Now come on," he said offering his hand, "I want to see just how badly you fucked up, when they post the scores."
They wait till Cinna and Portia to arrive before they start dinner. Naruto sits leaning back, a wide smile on his face as he eagerly stares at the television.
When Cinna and Portia finally do arrive, they begin to eat the fish soup which is… salty.
The grown-ups attempt to make small talk, but keep glancing at Naruto warily, not liking the smile on his face... They had already been subjects of his various pranks, none of them ended pretty.
Poor Effie ended up dyed blue for a whole day... but at least the color went with her outfit.
When they begin to serve the main course Haymitch says loudly, "Okay, enough small talk, just how bad were you today?"
Naruto shrugged, "I got a sword, bow, knife, spear, and mace, swung them around, made sure to almost hit some Gammakers... and then did something else."
Effie gaped at him, "You hit Gammakers!?"
"Almost… more like made them flinch with my awesomeness!"
"And what exactly was that 'something else?'"
The ninja smirked, "Well lets just say I put on a good show for all the female Gamemakers..."
Everyone gaped at his implication.
"… And you, sweetheart?" says Haymitch after a sweat drop.
"I shot an arrow at the Gamemakers."
Effie dropped her fork. "YOU WHAT!?"
"I shot an arrow at them... Well not exactly at them. In their direction. Sort of like Naruto . . . I just lost my head, so I shot an apple out of their stupid roast pig's mouth!" Katniss say defiantly unknowingly making Naruto like her that much more.
"And what did they say?" says Cinna carefully.
"Nothing. Or I don't know. I walked out after that."
"Without being dismissed?" gasps Effie.
"I dismissed myself."
There was a tense moment of silence.
"Well, that's that," says Haymitch. Then he butters a roll. Taking a bite, he picks up a pork chop with his fingers, which makes Effie frown, and dunks it in his wine. He rips off a hunk of meat and starts to chuckle. "What were their faces like?"
Katniss felt the edges of her mouth tilting up. "Shocked. Terrified. Uh, ridiculous, some of them." An image pops into her mind. "One man tripped backward into a bowl of punch."
Naruto and Haymitch both laugh loudly, everyone but Effie joins in… but even she is suppressing a smile.
"Well, it serves them right. It's their job to pay attention to you. And just because you come from District Twelve is no excuse to ignore you." Then her eyes dart around as if she's said something totally outrageous. "I'm sorry, but that's what I think," she says to no one in particular.
"I'll get a very bad score."
Naruto snorted, "It's as if everything I just said to you an hour ago doesn't matter any more…"
Katniss rolled her eyes, nudging him with her knee, "I suppose I have to thank you for that."
"Yep."
After dinner, they go to sitting room to watch the scores announced on television. First, they show a photo of the tribute, then flash their score below it. The Career Tributes naturally get in the eight-to-ten range. Most of the other players average a five. Surprisingly, little Rue comes up with a seven.
District 12 comes up last, as usual.
Naruto's mouth opens in shock when he sees a ten flashes by his name.
"What the…"
"They must have liked your spunk... and body." Portia says adding the afterthought.
Naruto nods, his mouth only opening wider when an eleven passes below Katniss' name…
At that there were shouts of both congratulations and joy.
"There must be a mistake. How . . . how could that happen?" Katniss said eyes wide.
"Guess they liked your temper," Haymitch shrugs. "They've got a show to put on. They need some players with some heat."
"Katniss, the girl who was on fire," says Cinna and gives her a hug. "Oh, wait until you see your interview dress."
"More flames?"
"Of a sort," he says mischievously.
She is then picked off the floor by Naruto who pulls her into a bear hug, "Look at that Kitty Kat ya got an eleven! I'm so proud!"
"Put me down, and do not call me that."
"Can I call you... Kat?"
"No."
"Robina Hood?"
"What?"
"Squirrel?"
Katniss rolled her eyes.
Xx
"Alright you two." Haymitch sighs, as he walked through the garden. "I need you two to understand that right now, you are all that the Capitol is talking about." He turned to them. "And these interviews will only help boost your popularity if they are done right… we need something that will wipe away the rest of the competition. Something so big no one—not even President Snow would ever see coming."
"My good looks?"
"No." Haymitch sighed, his face serious. "Katniss go to Effie to learn how to sit correctly, I will discuss this later with you."
"Wai—"
"Now." Haymitch growled before turning to Naruto, "What I was talking about boy..." he lowered his voice, "Was love."
"Huh?"
"You need to pretend to be in love... I can pull off the 'star-crossed lovers.'"
"But..." the blonde sighed, "Alright."
Haymitch nodded, "There are many rumors going around... In the arena I need you to stay with Katniss, protect her, do as a boy in love would do."
"... Something tells me you aren't going to let Katniss in on this."
"I'm not." his mentor agreed. "She needs to be surprised... You do like her yourself don't you."
It was a statement, not a question.
"Yes." Naruto admitted slowly, "She has an... effect on people."
Haymitch smirked, "Let's just hope that effect is shown for the audience tonight... Now for the difficult part... we need to find an image to use for you… You seem like a good actor, but I also want something to match your personality…"
"How about charming?" Naruto smiled waggling his eyebrows, "Or funny?"
Haymitch nodded thoughtfully, "Those might actually work… but we need to see just how well you pull it off… I want some mystery with that too. You also need to get Caesar to ask you about your love life… we need something big and dramatic."
"How about I say—"
You can guess how the rest of their session went.
When Naruto finally got to Effie, the woman was already irritated—from Katniss most likely, but still kept a level head when talking to him, sometimes straightening his posture, or fixing his hair.
Finally the day comes, and in the morning, Naruto is immediately surrounded by his prep-team.
They don't add much make-up, saying something about Portia not wanting to ruin his natural image (thank you Portia); but they seem to be trying to shape his untamable hair into some sort of riffraff style.
Then Portia enters with a hanger, covered by a white felt.
"Close your eyes!" she says, and he does so.
Naruto can feel her slip on a shirt, and then pants… and then a jacket.
"Alright now open your eyes." She squeals, and he immediately opens his cerulean orbs, almost flinching in surprise.
He hasn't looked this sharp since… forever.
His hair is still messy, but it is put in such a way it makes him look even more feral, his bangs hang low to his face adding a sense of danger to him. He wears black shoes, and pants, with a black suite, flame accents dance along the side turning orange if looked at to a certain angle.
Portia somehow made him look clean, and yet a bad boy all at the same time… Man did he like this girl.
"Wow." Was all he could say.
"Glad you like it." His stylist smirked, before she began to push him out the door, "Now come Cinna is waiting for us!"
Naruto grunts, quickly fixing his suite before making his way towards the District 12 Elevator…
But unlike Portia said, Katniss and Cinna aren't there yet. So the duo waits there (awkwardly)till they arrive, Naruto once in a while shifting from foot to foot. His lips moved silently as once again went over his speech...
A clearing of one's throat grabs his attention... and his jaw drops.
Katniss was in front of him looking h-h-h-hottttttt! Literally.
She was also going along with the fire theme (obviously) jewels were neatly placed all over her dress. They made it look as if she was on fire, the tiniest movement made the jewels shimmer, as if they were rippling flame. The added make-up seemed to sharpen her looks, defining her cheek bones, making her look like a mature woman.
Maybe this 'star-crossed lovers' thing won't be so bad…
When the elevator opens, the other tributes are being lined up to take the stage. All twenty-four of them sit in a big arc throughout the interviews. Naruto will be last—as planned.
Right before the duo parade onto the stage, Haymitch comes up behind them and growls, "Remember, you're a happy pair. So act like it."
Naruto smirks before linking his arm with hers.
"If you get nervous, just squeeze my arm," he says lowly as they make their way onto the stage. Katniss nods, her breathing picking up pace. She's thankful for Naruto's support, as always he's solid, keeping her from falling.
Caesar Flickerman, the man who has hosted the interviews for more than forty years, bounces onto the stage. It's a little scary because his appearance has been virtually unchanged during all that time… but then again Naruto shouldn't be talking…
Caesar's hair is powder blue and his eyelids and lips are coated in the same hue. He looks freakish but less frightening than he did last year when his color was crimson and he seemed to be bleeding. Caesar tells a few jokes to warm up the audience but then gets down to business.
The girl tribute from District 1, looking provocative in a see-through gold gown, steps up the center of the stage to join Caesar for her interview. You can tell her mentor didn't have any trouble coming up with an angle for her. With that flowing blonde hair, emerald green eyes, her body tall and lush . . . she's sexy all the way.
Naruto rolled his eyes, during her interview.
Each of the interview only lasts three minutes. Then a buzzer goes off and the next tribute is up.
Slowly but surely the districts slip by. 2, 3, 4. Everyone seems to be playing up some angle.
The monstrous boy from District 2 is a ruthless killing machine.
The fox-faced girl from District 5 sly and elusive.
8, 9, 10. The crippled boy from 10 is very quiet. 11.
Rue, who is dressed in a gossamer gown complete with wings, flutters her way to Caesar. A hush falls over the crowd at the sight of this magical wisp of a tribute.
Caesar's very sweet with her, complimenting her seven in training, an excellent score for one so small. When he asks her what her greatest strength in the arena will be, she doesn't hesitate. "I'm very hard to catch," she says in a tremulous voice. "And if they can't catch me, they can't kill me. So don't count me out."
"I wouldn't in a million years," says Caesar encouragingly.
The boy tribute from District 11, Thresh, has the same dark skin as Rue, but the resemblance stops there. He's a couple inches taller than Naruto, and about twice as wide.
Unlike Rue and her friendly approach, he ignores Caesar's attempts at banter and answers with a yes or no or just remains silent. It's easy to tell intimidation was his focus.
And then, they're calling Katniss Everdeen, Naruto nods her a good luck before she is standing and making her way center stage
He watches as she shakes Caesar's outstretched hand.
"So, Katniss, the Capitol must be quite a change from District Twelve. What's impressed you most since you arrived here?" asks Caesar.
Katniss momentarily glances at Naruto before speaking, "The lamb stew."
Caesar laughs, and some of the audience joins in… Naruto simply smiles at the very Katniss answer.
"The one with the dried plums?" asks Caesar. She nods. "Oh, I eat it by the bucketful." He turns sideways to the audience in horror, hand on his stomach. "It doesn't show, does it?" They shout reassurances to him and applaud.
"Now, Katniss," he says confidentially, "When you came out in the opening ceremonies, my heart actually stopped. What did you think of that costume?"
"You mean after I got over my fear of being burned alive?" she asks.
Big laugh. A real one from the audience.
"Yes. Start then," says Caesar.
"I thought Cinna was brilliant and it was the most gorgeous costume I'd ever seen and I couldn't believe I was wearing it. I can't believe I'm wearing this, either." She lifts up her skirt and spreads it out. "I mean, look at it!"
Then Katniss spins in a circle, and Naruto joins the people as they clap.
"Oh, do that again!" says Caesar, and when she finally stops she clutches Caesar's arm… Naruto let out a low growl.
"Don't stop!" he says.
"I have to, I'm dizzy!" She says giggling in a non-Katniss fashion.
Caesar wraps a protective arm around her. "Don't worry, I've got you. Can't have you following in your mentor's footsteps."
Everyone's hooting as the cameras find Haymitch, who is by now famous for his head dive at the reaping, and he waves them away good-naturedly and points back to Katniss.
"It's all right," Caesar reassures the crowd. "She's safe with me. So, how about that training score. E-le-ven. Give us a hint what happened in there."
"Um . . . all I can say, is I think it was a first."
The cameras are right on the Gamemakers, who are chuckling and nodding.
"You're killing us," says Caesar as if in actual pain. "Details. Details."
Naruto smirks as she addresses the balcony. "I'm not supposed to talk about it, right?"
The Gamemaker who fell in the punch bowl shouts out, "She's not!"
"Thank you," Katniss smiles. "Sorry. My lips are sealed."
"Let's go back then, to the moment they called your sister's name at the reaping," says Caesar. His mood is quieter now. "And you volunteered. Can you tell us about her?"
Again Katniss turned to Naruto, who gives her a quick smile, she gulps.
"What did she say to you? After the reaping?" Caesar asks.
"She asked me to try really hard to win." The audience is frozen.
"And what did you say?" prompts Caesar gently.
"I swore I would…"
"I bet you did," says Caesar, giving her a squeeze. "And Katniss our time is running out! But this question is the one all of Panem is asking... What is your relationship with your fellow tribute, Naruto Uzumaki?"
Katniss is silent before she gives the most truthful answer she can, "I owe him... everything."
The crowd is absolutely silent, "What do you mean by that?" Caesar says softly.
"I-"
The buzzer goes off.
Saved!
The crowd screams in both anger and desperation, begging for her to have a longer interview. Caesar has to shout over them.
"Oh, looks like we're out of time. Best of luck, Katniss Everdeen, tribute from District Twelve."
The applause, and yells for continuation continue long after she's seated.
Then Naruto is called.
The said blonde puts on his best foxy smile, before strutting onto the stage, winking in the crowd's direction.
You can literally hear the woman of the Capitol screaming.
He shakes Caesar's hand firmly, before sitting down, making sure to keep an easy smile on his face at all times.
From the get go he and Caesar have the crowd totally entrapped, whether it's Naruto telling a joke, or him telling stories about all his various pranks. He makes sure to stay evasive to the more personal of Caesar's questions.
Finally the man asks the question.
"So Naruto the whole Country of Panem is wondering, if you have a special lady?" Caesae says, calming down from one of Naruto's 'prank' stories.
The blonde looks down sheepishly shaking his head, "Not really... I'm not exactly what you'd call popular with girls."
"Really now... well I don't believe it." Casesar exclaims, the crowd roaring in agreement. "You have all the ladies here falling head over heels!"
"Well that's because the women at the Capitol are much nicer than the ones at home." Naruto smiles, even he was impressed with his lie. "Back at District Tweleve I am pretty close to ordinary."
"Well that's too bad..." Caesar says trailing off.
"But you see Caesar, I was glad at not getting any attention from those at home..."
Caesar tilts his head to the side, "And why is that?"
Naruto begins to nervously play with his hands, "Because I would have to shoot them all down, and I don't like hurting girl's feelings." he takes a deep breath. "Truthfully... I'm in love with someone else... I can't imagine my life without her."
Caesar put a hand to his chest wiping an invisible tear, "How romantic is that? You two close?"
"N-Not really." he stammers. "We saw each other sometimes but... I don't think she sees me as anything but a friend."
There are some wails from the crowd, Naruto has them wrapped around his little finger.
"Did you ever tell her how you felt?"
Naruto shook his head.
"Well there's no rejection." Caesar smiles. "Who knows, she might feel the same way... I'll tell you what." he claps his hand on Naruto's shoulder. "You win this thing, and then she'll have to notice you right!?"
The crowd roars.
Naruto's next statement quickly quiets them, "I'm sorry to say Caesar, that I don't plan on coming out of this thing."
"... And why is that?"
Naruto's voice seems to deepen with his honesty. "Because the woman I love... came here with me."
DONE!
Betaed by ILikeSharpObjects and HybridTailedFox
Yeah it sticks close to canon, but give me a break! I had a real hard time on the interviews.
I might redo them later….
Also I'm thinking about Catching Fire now... do you guys want me to have the two mentor? Or do you want me to have the two of them go back in the arena. Whatever you want tell me in a-
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