So apparently I'm not showing Cato's emotions enough... Just to remind you... I'm french, and I write straight in English, without translating anything. So it's hard. That's the first time I ever write something in another language than my own.
*Sad face* I hope it is okay though. I really hope you like my fic. As I don't know what to write anymore (I happen to have so many ideas for different stories that I don't write any), this is the only thing I write anymore. I'm sure that if you're a bit of a writer you know what I mean. Anyway. *cough*
Oh, btw, I'm desperate about the lack of Cato/Marvel fanfics. That's sad. Maybe I'll write one someday. Haha.
Chapter VII
"Cato ?" Peeta whispered.
The boy didn't answer right away. He was looking at the ceiling. Peeta and him had sex. Not that it was his first time with a boy – he had actually slept with Marvel and boys from his district before the games. No, it was different this time. That was the first time he had done that while feeling something.
He looked down to Peeta, who were waiting for him to answer, curled down, the hand on his. chest and his face just next to his'.
"Yeah ?" he eventually answered.
"I'm glad to be here. To be here, with you." he smiled.
Cato smiled.
"Not more than I am."
He moved above him and started to kiss him. He could feel Peeta's hands cuddling his back.
The kisses. The cuddles. The smiles. Not leaving right after the sex, but staying in bed with the boy, under the covers. That was what were missing in his previous relationships, and what was making this one perfect.
Someone knocked at the door and entered.
"I hope I'm not disturbing... OH MY GOD !" Effie yelled at their sight.
Cato turned back. Instead of worrying that they were showed up, he frowned and asked :
"Effie, are you okay ?"
Indeed, the woman's wig was all misplaced, her clothes all crumpled.
"Hmm ! Of course, I, of course I am." she barely said.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Not to be rude or anything, but we were kind of in the middle of something."
"I can see that" she answered.
"Why are you here ?" Peeta asked.
She seemed relieved that the speaker wasn't Cato anymore.
"Good question, Peeta ! Well, we will be in District 10 in fifteen minutes. I was just checking on Cato to see if he finally had put a shirt on. I guess he didn't.
"Erm, actually, I did, but..." he started.
She raised her hand with a weird smile on her face.
"IIIII, I don't want to hear that, whatever it is. Just get ready, shower, or whatever. Peeta, I assume you're strong enough to get out, today."
He smiled.
"I think I am."
She grinned.
"Perfect." Effie said before leaving the room.
As Peeta was getting out of bed, Cato felt his heart hurting a bit. That moment, their moment, was over.
"Peeta ?"
The boy, entirely naked, turned back.
"Yes ?" he said with a smile.
"Where you goin' ?"
"Didn't you hear Effie ? We should shower."
Cato got up.
"So, let's not waste water then."
OoO
After the speeches, the three victors were walking down the corridor to get out of the city hall. Cato reached out to catch Peeta's hand. The boy looked at him and smiled.
Effie ran towards them, almost breathless.
"Peeta ! Peeta, you have to see a doctor now." she said.
"Really ?" he answered. "I'm felling much better."
The woman noticed his hand holding Cato's.
"No, actually, I think it's getting worse. You're losing your mind, Peeta !" she almost yelled. "What is going on with Cato ? First, what I saw earlier, and then, you're holding hands. You're obviously out of your mind right now."
She grabbed his hand and forced him to go with her. Peeta dropped Cato's hand with a sad look on his face.
"See you later." he just said.
OoO
Cato and Katniss were waiting in front of the train, at the station. When Effie finally arrived, the two teens moved towards him.
"So, what happened ?" Cato asked first.
"What did the doctor said ?" Katniss asked.
She was livid
"He said... he said that..."
Cato frowned.
"What is it ?"
"He has a pulmonary embolism..." Effie explained.
Cato looked at her, hopping she would been joking. She was not. She looked so sorry. She even had tears on the corner of her eyes.
"That's apparently something you can easily get after a surgery." she smoothly added. "Peeta has been hospitalized. We're not leaving the District until he's healed."
"Where is he ?" Cato asked.
"I'm not sure I'm supposed to..." the woman started.
"Where is he ?" he almost yelled.
She sniffed.
"Follow me..." she sadly said.
She led them to an hospital. After walking for a few minutes, she stopped in front of a door, that she opened.
Peeta was there, laying on a bed, in a hospital suit. When they walked in, Cato was the first he looked at.
"Peeta !" Cato gasped while running towards the bed.
"Effie told us what happened." Katniss said. "I can't believe it... I'm so sorry Peeta, we will be there for you."
"Don't say that. You don't know what it means... You don't know what it is !" Peeta said before coughing. "I don't want you here. I don't want you to see me like that.", he said as Katniss was looking at Cato for some support.
"Shut up." Cato said while putting his index on the boy's mouth. "Don't say anything more. Katniss and I will stay here, with you, until you get better.
Peeta smirked. Cato took his hand.
"What did you think ?" he added. "You really thought you could get rid of us like that ?" He moved closer towards him. "I won't leave you. Never."
He put his other hand on the boy's shoulder, and kissed him on his forehead.
"You heard the man." Katniss said to Peeta. "District 9 can wait : we're not leaving, no matter how long it takes."
"We will take off the clot in one hour." a doctor said. "We have to prepare him for the surgery, please, leave the room."
"We'll be just outside" Cato whispered. "I'm not leaving you."
Reluctantly, he slowly dropped Peeta's hand. Without
"I never will." he added while backing towards the door, without stopping staring at him.
Never. I can't leave him. He's my only family.
As he was getting out of the room, he realized he was kind of mad at his parents. He remembered that what he could do was never enough for them. His father always had something to criticize about him. His mother were always complaining about everything he did. If he had volunteered, it was for a good reason : to make them proud of him. To make them like him.
He also remembered the moment he had volunteered. The look on his father's face. Disappointed – the same as he had when he told his parents he liked boys. If volunteering isn't enough to make you proud of me, what is, then ? Winning. Of course. And he had won. Now that he was thinking about it, his parents should have been there, in his hospital room, before he wakes up.
"Effie, do you know if my parents came to see me while I was in the coma ?"
She shook her head.
"For what I know, they did not... I'm sorry."
He swallowed. At that moment, his parents were not in the Capitol's hands yet. That was it. They were still mad at him. What for, exactly ? He had done his best.
He tried to remember if his parents had actually been proud of him – just what he ever wanted. Yes, they had been, until he told them he was gay.
That was definitely it. Three years ago, they were a happy family, with all the flaws of a normal one. They didn't accept that he liked boys. As they heard Snow telling him to seduce Katniss a few days ago, they must had been half relieved.
"I have to go." he said.
"Where you going ?" Katniss asked. "I thought you were not leaving him."
"I need to talk to Snow, right now. I'll be back as soon as possible."
OoO
"That is an understandable request you have here." Snow said. "You want to see your parents – through screen, of course – to check on them, right ?"
"Yeah." Cato grumbled.
"Well, wait a sec."
The man put his finger on a button.
"Bring the two prisoners here. You have one minute, Cato." Snow left the room.
Just a moment later, he could see his parents on the screen. He realized he didn't pity them anymore.
"Cato..." his mother whispered.
"How are you ?"
She darkened.
"We're... we're fine."
"I've something to tell you. Both of you. Ever since I told you... you know, you both kind of hate me."
"That's not..." his mother started.
"Let me finish. I don't care about what you said anymore. I'm thankful, sort of. Because of your anger at me, I met people that actually care about me since I volunteered. I've found someone to love."
"We already know that" his father said. "That girl, Katniss..."
"I'm not talking about Katniss." he simply said. "You know who it is. Whatever you like it or not. I don't need your love or your pride anymore."
"Time's over." Snow said.
"Perfect, because I have something to tell you too."
The president raised an eyebrow.
"What is it ?"
"It's done. We're together now."
Cato simply turned back and left the wagon.
OoO
"Thank god, you're here." Katniss said when he got back in the corridor of the hospital.
"What's up, how is he ?" he asked.
"He's in observation now. Apparently, the surgery went well. We'll be able to talk to him in a few hours."
He sighed, relieved.
"How are you ?" she asked ?
He turned his head and looked at her.
"I'm good... but I have something to tell you. I told Snow that Peeta and I were... together."
She lowered her head. She then looked up to him and grinned.
"You did the right thing."
She hugged him and he wrapped his arms around her.
When it went 10pm, he sat on a bench. She sat with him. They spent the night, waiting there for someone that could tell them they could see Peeta. They eventually fell asleep.
Around 8 am, the day after, the doctor went to wake them up.
"You can see your friend now."
They walked towards the room. Peeta was already awake.
"You're there" he softly smiled.
"Of course we are." answered Katniss.
"How are you feeling ?" Cato asked.
"I'm not sure. Yet. I hope I'm getting better."
"We sure do too !" exclaimed Effie, who was just on the doorstep. "The doctor said that the clot is no longer in your body, and that you were surely doing better. You'll be able to leave the clinic tonight !"
She clapped her hands. Everyone smiled, even a nurse behind them, taking care of another patient.
"That's great news !" smiled Cato.
He moved towards the bed and softly kissed him on the lips, then he backed off.
"I'm just so happy for you two" Katniss gently said. "Now that the embolism is gone, you'll be able to be together !"
"Don't be too sure..." Cato whispered. "I'm certain that Snow is planning something for us now that he has what he wanted."
"Well if he is, we will be waiting for him. I'm almost sure that he will want Peeta to explain to Panem why he did lie."
"What did I lie about ?" the boy asked.
"Shh, just rest." she said. "We will ask Peeta to tell them that he was still not sure about who he was into. But we have enough time to let Peeta out of it for now. I think Snow will wait until the Victory tour is over."
"Sounds like a plan."
He looked at Peeta. The boy was already back asleep.
He seemed so in peace, he was so cute.
"No one will hurt you now." Cato whispered. "I promise."
Hope you liked it.
To those who keep reviewing, that's really nice. Thank you :)
xx
AC
