Sorry about the sort-of0by-my-standards-late-update: whoa that was a long title wasn't it. Must say i am very thankful for everyone reading and favoring this fic. I have gotten a lot of feedback about how different this is to my previous HG multi-chapter fic and I must agree with you. This Peeta will not be as dark as my other one but he is going to be stronger in will. Some good news about this fic: i'm going post games and into an AU version of both Catching Fire and Mockingjay. I'll also be posting a few chapters in others P.O.V's during that time but for now it's going to just be Peeta's.
A.N-Shout Outs!
Fadi2510702- Thanks for the review hope you like the new chapter. Hope you enjoy the newer bonds and relationships i'm always just throwing into the mix.
Through Darkness And Light- Glad you liked it, just knew i had to get the ball moving on their little side relationship.
The Few And Proud Marines- Oclan is one of my favorite Daemons-if you couldn't tell- and second is Kana who i will explore in later chapters a little more. Glad you like Glimmer as i stated i think that her character is always underestimated and not treated with enough thought and that people write her as an after thought: i just try and give her a bit of justice.
Lady Luna Riddle- Don't worry about your new found liking to weapons. Because of the Avengers movie and the Hunger Games i'm going to take up archery so the preaching to the choir there. You will find out what the weapon Garland gave Peeta was this chapter, just so you know it's my favorite exotic weapon. Well Katniss isn't played in a bad light in this fic but not a good light either she's sorta that side character.
Shinigami- Well Peeta is played with by the capitol for a while-but it's not by his on desire- but he does join the rebellion. I can't tell you too much because i don't want to spoil the plot. Also my Peeta does not love killing in fact one of the big things coming up are his nightmares and the guilt he feels after the games: so yay for human Peeta.
Peeta's P.O.V
There was something daunting about having to perform your skills in front of the men and women who could very well be responsible for either keeping you alive or killing you. But that was part of the games, assessment day: the time where I have to go in and show the game-makers and Seneca Crane everything I have in ways of keeping myself alive once I go into the arena. Earlier that morning Portia had pulled me aside and helped calm all of my nerves by talking to me about everything, she even revealed that she and Seneca were old friends and that she knew the Head Game-maker better than anyone.
That had actually put a lot of things at ease, in my mind if Portia was friends with him then that could only mean that he was an alright kind of guy because Portia was one of the most down to earth people I had ever meet so that could only meant she had awesome friends: which was why I was sitting on my metal bench with Oclan sitting in front of me entertaining me and keeping me distracted as I await for my name to be called for my own sessions. Glancing out of the corner of my eye I can see Katniss shaking where she sat and my heart went out to her a little, this must be terrifying for her: at least I had some skills to use to my advantage and show off, from what I heard and saw at training the other day she didn't know much.
Although considering we had just sat through the other tributes being called in one after the other I was probably just as scared as she was about what was awaiting us when we enter the assessment room. The first person to walk in had been Marvel who had exited looking smug and downright arrogant about what he had done, and then when Clove had asked how he did he had just easily said that he had aced it: how u could ace an assessment session was beyond me but apparently Marvel had done it. Glimmer had been called next: and bless her she had actually looked back to me and given me a timid almost shy smile before giving Daithi a confident grin and strode into the room, when she had come out ten minutes later she had been so happy and excited I could only assume she had done well, that I was glad of, she had worked hard on the throwing discs and Daggertail the whole previous morning and afternoon.
Of course after the district one tributes that had looked graceful and beautiful when they fought-that I knew because of the training sessions-came the terrifying and arrogant district two tributes. Cato had been called first and he had done the same as Glimmer and had gazed back at me before sending me a smirk and then walking into the room with all the confidence in the world, he probably didn't even think for a moment that he could mess it up. When he had come out and strode back to Adira he had high fived Clove with a big smile on his face and then walked to the elevator not bothering to wait for his partner like Marvel had-although I think Marvel had waited around more for Clove then for Glimmer-and when he passed me he gave me a wink that sent my face aflame. Clove had been next and she hadn't given anyone a backwards glance as she strode through the doors but when she did come out her smile was so pleased and satisfied the ball in my stomach just got heavier and heavier with dread.
After the first four were put through I tuned out the other tributes knowing that they would be just as scared as Katniss and I, so when Rue from District eleven was called through I felt my whole body stiffen up as I realized that I would be called in next and that scared me more than I wanted to admit. A whole bunch of thoughts flew through my mind: what if I screwed up and made a fool of myself, what if I forgot everything I had been taught? All of these thoughts circled round and round in my head only to freeze when Katniss slipped her hand into mine and gave it a slight squeeze making me look over at her in shock seeing her timid and shy smile gracing her face, it was nothing like the light happy ones she gave Gale but it was more like comforting smile.
"Katniss?" I ask questioningly as Rue slowly walked back out and then raced into Thresh's arms when she caught sight of her huge district partner.
The girl who had accompanied me to the capitol gave me a slight smile and shrugged slightly "You're gonna do fine. Everyone knows it but even you would get scared" she said softly and when I look into her silver eyes I can see that this was her way of trying to create some sort of friendship or at least bond before the games.
Only thing was that she knew I couldn't bring someone home, no one could bring their fellow tributes home, not only that but there had been no offers of friendship before this moment so I just nodded and then froze when I heard the automatized voice call out my name making Katniss give my hand a friendly squeeze and whispered good luck to me. Oclan nudged my leg with his muzzle and then followed me to the entrance where the peacekeepers were waiting for me before giving me a look that spoke volumes: if we were gonna bond now would be the time.
Nodding I close my eyes and lay my hand on his head between his lupine eyes and cleared my mind, I felt the pulling of Oclan's power and my own forming one entity and unlike most times when I pulled away I ran straight into the pull and only when I felt that piece of me click into place and my body feel complete did I break the connection and open my eyes. Everything was tinted slightly blue and was sharper than before and I could hear everything so much more intensely, looking down and Oclan who was nodding I give him a thankful vibe which he accepted and which he countered with his own happy one before turning on my heel and strode into the evaluation room.
When I walked into the room I saw a table had been set up with the three different Persian weapons I would be showcasing and I bound over to them and strap the Agas belt around my waist and then the claw gauntlet was strapped to my wrist. My hand hovered over the final weapons that I had been gifted with the previous afternoon and with a big grin I strap the two match scimitars to my back in a crossed position to make them easier to pull out. I turn to the game-makers ready to announce myself only to freeze in annoyance when I see that instead of paying attention to me they group of them were too busy laughing and drinking around Seneca Crane.
Normally I would be able to brush this off and just work around it but the fact was I wasn't in my right mind, I was bonded to my wolf daemon meaning I shared his lupine temper, and one thing I couldn't handle when I was bonded with Oclan was any blatant show of disrespect and what the game-makers were doing was defiantly a show of disrespect. Looking down to my claw gauntlet and then up to the balcony where the game-makers sat I grin as I see the large metal table that the group of them were all gathered around. Without even the slightest hesitation I take aim and fire the claw and latch onto the table making the group of them scream and jump back in shock, grinning happily-and maybe a little more animal then I normally would-I use my strength the pull the table from the balcony and throw it into the wall behind me where it smashed to pieces.
Pulling the claw back into the recess I lower my lupine gaze to the now startled game makers and give them an unamused stare "Are you ready to pay attention now?" I said dryly and have to fight back a grin when I see Seneca Crane chuckle and then motion for me to continue: I couldn't let them control me. "Good: Peeta Mellark District twelve" I state simply and then unseat the Agas and stride over to the dummies.
Taking a deep breath I flow through the Kata's I have learnt for both the Claw and Agas making it look like some deadly and difficult dance that is drawing gasps and sounds of awe from my audience, I don't spare them any glance and launch my claw into a dummy on the other side of the room and decided to play it up for them. "Come here!" I snarl allowing a bit of wolf slip into my voice so it was obvious I was bonded to them.
The dummy fly's towards me and in a move that had taken me a good hour to master the previous afternoon I release my claw and drawn my scimitars while spinning before slashing around in an outwards arc. The dummy stayed standing for a short moment but when I kick it over with my boot it falls apart in two neatly sliced halves drawing applause from the game-makers. Deciding I've shown them how easily I could kill I launch my claw to the climbing neat on the roof and fly up there before flipping down and catching the aerobatic pole a few meters down, my hands had only just gripped them before I fling myself onto the next bar flipping through the air neatly, when I see that I'm close to a dummy I once again fire my claw so that it hits the wall behind it and launch myself onto the immovable opponent and bury the Agas into the top of the object's 'skull'.
Pulling my claw from the wall I walk over to stand directly in front of the game-makers who are all watching me with baited breath as I hold the two Scimitar's up in a saluting pose, Garland's voice flowed through me as well as Oclan's comforting presence in my very being making me breathe deeply. Garland had told me that the game-makers wanted a show and while showing them that I could kill would be ideal also give them something to envy, which was why he taught me a scimitar dance, moving in a slow purposeful and graceful motion I try to remember all the steps to the dance that Garland showed me the previous afternoon and soon I found that my body was moving on its own so I cleared my mind and made sure that the game-makers got a good look at my eyes that were now more wolf than human. When I heard one of the female game-makers gasp in shock and murmur to her partner who then of course muttered to Seneca I knew they had figured it out.
I finish the deadly dance just as my time is over; when the buzzer sounds I straighten out of my final position and stare right into the awed and excited gaze of Seneca Crane "Thanks for giving me a moment of your time" I say stiffly before walking back to the weapons table and in motions that spoke of an ease that came with handling a certain weapon for certain periods of time I place all of them on the table and without a backwards glance I stride from the room with the sound of the excited chatter and murmurs of the game-makers following me.
When I finally exit the room Oclan walks over and nuzzles my hand making me chuckle weakly and pat him calmly, I don't cut the bond mostly because I need is presence with me at that moment but instead I straighten my form and walk to where Katniss is waiting and give her a warm smile "Good luck" I say to her comfortingly before linking my hands behind my back and heading to the elevator.
Just as I enter the metal lift I suddenly notice that I'm not alone and that Cato was standing in the elevator with me which wouldn't make any sense considering he would have finished at least an hour ago. "Cato what are you doing in here" I ask as I turn to face him my face clouded with confusion.
The district two tribute shrugged and then placed an arm on the wall behind me either side of me trapping me, "Just waiting for you" he whispered leaning down and nuzzling my neck much like a wolf would to a fellow pack mate. "You must have done well, you look like you just hung the stars themselves" he whispered against my skin making me shiver at the intimate feel of his breath against me neck.
"I did" I say nervously as my hands itch just to touch the boy in front of me and yet I was terrified to do so.
Cato pulled back after pressing a light kiss against my neck and gave me a pleased grin and cupped my face in his hands staring deep in my eyes, his own going wide and awed when he saw they're lupine form. One of his hands began to trial under my eyes making me shiver a little at the touch "So this is what a bonded partner looks like" he whispered and I feel myself nodding before I could stop myself "You're beautiful…even more so than before"
Oclan made a growl of affection and when I glance at my daemon out of the corner of my eye I see that Adira and he were curled up together and the grey wolf was nuzzling Oclan on top of his head licking his ears every few moments. Cato chuckled and stepped back from me actually confusing me more than I thought it would, Cato was hot and then cold all the time it was almost as if he was playing with me, "This is our stop" he said softly giving my cheek one more stroke before he exited the elevator as the doors opened leaving me staring after him in total confusion, both mental and emotional.
Part of me wanted to hate Cato for making me feel this way and yet another part of me reveled in the strange emotions he stirred up in me, I had never felt this way about anyone and it made me feel more alive than anything I had ever allowed me to feel before. When the doors to the apartment opened I strode through and wrapped my arms around Portia who was relaxing on the couch making her squeal in both surprise and happiness, we hadn't been able to spend as much time together lately and that was a bit of a shame because Portia was one of the people I felt closest to in the whole Capitol.
"Hey Portia" I say leaping over the back of the couch so that I landed next to her making her laugh and hug me only to pull away scrunching her nose "Hey not feeling the love right now" I laugh while my stylist just shook her head.
The beautiful woman laughed and pushed me in the direction of my room "Hey I'll give you a bit of love when you shower, I don't know what you did in your training session but you stink" I lift my arm up and smell my armpit and grimace at the smell, she was right I smelt ripe.
Oclan barked out his laugh and then curled up next to Portia who smirked at me smugly as I lift myself up and move towards the bathroom, as I undress I suddenly remember how close Cato had gotten to me and suddenly I wonder how the hell he had been able to stand so close to me when I smelt like this. Sighing I jump in the shower and begin to wash myself as thoroughly as I could, I even washed behind my ears twice, I hated smelling and I knew that I would when I was in the arena but when I was there so would everyone else so it didn't really matter but I had to live with not only Katniss, Haymitch and Effie but both of our stylists and no one needed to smell my sweat.
Once I stepped out of a shower I quickly pull on a burgundy sweat suit and it's matching tunic and some brown shoes before walking out into the lounge room again my hair still holding the moisture from the shower and making it stick to my head a little. Oclan bounded over to me and nuzzled my waist happily now that I was there and as I laughed I ran a hand through his fur our bond allowing me to feel the lingering effects of my affectionate motions. Portia laughed and was about to say something when Effie called us to dinner, I could only guess that Katniss had come home when I was in the shower and had gone into her own as soon as she got in the door unlike myself who had decided to go talk to Portia
When I sat down to my beautifully prepared meal I look over at Katniss who was indeed back from her own training session and gave her a smile, I could tell just by the defeated look in her eyes that the assessment for her mustn't have gone well, and despite the fact she was pretty much my enemy I couldn't help but try to make this a little easier for her. She had pretty much been engaged to Gale and yet she had been reaped and forced into the games, she hadn't been even the slightest bit prepared for this unlike myself who despite hating every moment of it all had been trained for most of my teenage life.
Haymitch walked in and collapsed into he seat next to me giving the two of us questioning looks as he took a sip of his wine "so how'd you think you did" he asked lightly as if he wasn't expecting us to say that we terrible.
"I don't think I made a very good impression" Katniss said weakly and Cinna who was sitting next to her grabbed her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze making me turn to him and give him a weak but thankful smile.
Our mentor nodded and then turned to me his eyes expectant and searching as if he thought I would lie to him "And you"
Clearing my throat I look at my meal and play with my fork to take away my nerves "Ah…I attacked the game-makers with my claw gauntlet" I said softly and everyone fell silent.
Effie gasped in complete horror and Portia began to laugh happily while Haymitch smirk just began to form on his face, he was pleased I could already tell, but why was well and truly beyond me. "They weren't paying attention so I kinda…gave them a reason too" I said flippantly as if it wasn't a big deal and then took a sip of the strange green drink that had been served with dinner that night and had a lime flavor too it, "Seemed to work as well, they couldn't take their eyes off me the whole time"
Our mentor held up his hand which I promptly slapped in a high five as he gave me a pleased grin, Portia was giggling and giving me thumbs up, Katniss was staring at me and shock and a little respect, despite being terrible disturbed by my actions Effie was giving me a tired look, like I was a son she had too scold "Well what's done is done, no going back now. We can only hope that Seneca is fair" she said looking at Portia who smiled happily and nodded.
"Seneca is a good man, he was probably more amused than anything that Peeta had the guts to attack him" she said giggling making me laugh and then dig into my meal my worry a little less on the forefront of my mind.
I would never say it but I had been a little worried about what I had done in the assessment room, Portia's comment had put my mind at ease more than I was willing to admit. "Hey Peeta" Effie asked gaining my attention again "How long can you stay bonded with Oclan like that" she said motioning to my eyes which I could only guess were still in lupine form.
"Oh…I don't know we never really tested it" I say shrugging
Haymitch looked at me curiously and then drained his glass as we all finished the last of our meal, the assessment scores would be revealed in a few moments and we couldn't allow ourselves to miss them. "Try and stay in bond for as long as possible, it'll help you in the arena to know how long you can be the best of your ability" I nod and finish my last mouthful before following Effie out into the lounge room once again.
Sitting next to Katniss I give her a small smile and then turn my attention back to the screen which had just flickered on as Ceaser Flickerman's big bright grin faded onto screen his theme music playing loudly and obnoxiously. This was a man who knew how to transform himself; he always had a different look no matter how many games he commentated on he always looked different to the previous year. This year he was sporting a bright deep blue look both his hair and suit were a deep royal blue that made him a sight to look at-and somehow I couldn't help but notice it actually suited him.
"Well Panem how are you this fine evening: only two days until the big launch of the 74th Annual Hunger Games" he said brightly making the bile rise in my throat and Oclan to lay his head on my lap from where he was curled up next to me offering my silent support. "Now we have an exciting announcement tonight: the tributes training assessment scores" he said happily.
I knew as well as everyone else that a score means nothing in the actual arena but it was more so that people could safely bet on their chosen tributes, it was a little sick actually but I just ignored it and allowed the announcer to clear his throat "From District One Glimmer: with a score of…ten" he said as Glimmers head-shot appeared and a ten circled her showing everyone in the games that the girl from district one was more than just a pretty face. "District One Marvel: with a score on nine"
Grinning I imagine how mad Marvel was going to me knowing that the girl who hadn't trained as a career and instead had been a music student had scored higher than he did in the assessments, I could only hope he didn't take it out on Glimmer herself. "From District two Clove: with a score of…ten" Ceaser announced as a ten circled Clove's face making me swallow, so far the most dangerous tributes in the whole game were both girls, that didn't make me feel any better about my situation. "District two Cato…with a score of…ELEVEN!"
As the eleven circled Cato's face I could feel the dread in my stomach growing and growing with each moment, how the hell did he get such a high number? I knew that he was a career and all but it was still the highest score ever given out in the game's history, and suddenly that made me feel a little scared about the strange bond/relationship that I had created with the boy. Katniss had begun to shake again and for good reason, I was at least a little proud of my assessment session but she thought she had bombed it so I could only guess what that meant for her. The other tributes flew by and I only caught a few, the boy from three got an eight and the girl from five a six, Thresh got a nine just as Marvel had and I could only guess that it was because of his strength, Rue got a seven which was more than I had thought she was going to get and suddenly it was district twelves turn.
"From District Twelve Katniss" Ceaser said and I could feel the girl next to me sitting up a little further in anticipation "With a score of seven" I could feel Katniss freeze beside me and my heart went out to her, it wasn't a terrible score, she wasn't the lowest scored tribute who so far was the girl from seven who had a four but it wasn't exactly that high.
"Don't worry about it sweetheart it ain't that bad, victors have won with less" Haymitch said and suddenly I realize that it was the first time I had heard him eve be the slightest bit comforting to Katniss in any way, but she was too disappointed that she merely nodded and took the comfort on the chin.
Portia tapped my shoulder and pointed to the screen and suddenly I realize that it was my turn, taking a deep breath I watch as my own face flooded onto the screen "And lastly District Twelve Peeta" Ceaser said and paused dramatically making me bite my lip, "With a score of…no way: an ELEVEN!" he yelled and when the number began to circle me I felt the air rush out of my body.
An eleven: Me I had gotten that high of a score? Shaking my head I watch as Haymitch grabbed Effie and dance with her happily and Portia was jumping up and down excitedly as she talked to Cinna who was nodding calmly trying to reign his excited partner in. "Congratulations" I hear Katniss whisper from beside me and I look over at her and give me a weak smile as I realize how much that score was going to affect me.
Before I could coast by as just the boy from district twelve with a wolf daemon but now I was the boy with the highest score in the games and that was going to make me a threat. Swallowing deeply I stroke Oclan's head and smile at my team around me who were all excited for me and thought of the game in two days: I was going to have to use every skill that I had to survive the bloodbath and hopefully the rest of the games because I could only imagine that by getting such a high score painted a big old target on my face. Oclan licked my hand and I smiled at him affectionately before taking the glass Haymitch handed me as they toasted me, I would figure everything out later but right now I was gonna celebrate: I just got a eleven!
Ta-Da Well There we Have it Peeta with an Eleven!
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Next Chapter: Interviews and Portia's background.
