A/N: I'm so sorry for the long wait. Life gets out of control around me. My dear grandpa passed away a few months ago but it still hard to get a handle of it because he means so much for me. He paid my tuition fee, helped my family and I love him.. It's just so hard. And I'm still not graduated from my college because I'm stuck in the same place and same problem! I let everyone down, and mostly, myself… Anyway, it's not a reason, I'm still letting you down and I'm sorry. But I swear I'll get this story done, and just so you know, you're review and encouragement are the ones that keeps me writing. So, thank you.
Basically, I started this chapter since months ago but I don't have much time to write, so when I focused back, this chapter turned really long. Like super long. Gosh, I feel bad for my beta DragonDaemon93 since she must've been really suffered when edited this, lol. She suggested that I better divide this chapter into two, and I agreed. So, this is the first part. Thank u so much Daemon, I wouldn't make it without you.
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Hunger Games.
THORN AND ROSES
Now, I know that I have fallen for her. Probably from the first time I saw her; she looked so quietly dangerous, yet so pretty. When she beat my score, I was pissed, but I still liked her. After that she doubted my leadership and even took over, so I hated her since she had no idea how much she hurt my pride, and because she had no idea about what I'd been through. She also already had a boyfriend and everybody talked about them like crazy. And what made me pissed more is that she always stayed so calm even though I provoked her and put a knife at her throat. I convinced myself that she deserved to be hated by careers like us, influenced myself, and even be cold hearted towards her. And yet, she managed to take care of herself and actually looks like one of the career.
Then, before I knew it, a couple of years later I drawn back to her when I heard she broke off with lover boy, slowly, and painfully. It started with a kiss, a simple kiss on her shoulder. Then I married her under some odd circumstances and benefits. I intended to keep our marriage as plain as possible, but now I know that its' impossible. The more time I spend with her, the more my heart softens; the more I get to know her, the more I care about her; and the more she suffered without me, the more she cherished me; the more I looked into her beautiful mesmerizing eyes… the more I adore her. And as time goes by I realized that she is attracted to me too, and that we have the chance. A real chance to deserve the best for us.
That thing I said to her when we're about to sleep on the train in our honeymoon, about I love her, it's real. It was half and half at first, because I was still trying to figure out was I truly felt, but after I kissed her for the first time in our wedding, after I got angry when lover boy hugged her so tight and trailing her neck with his tongue, after spending more time in the honeymoon, after I kissed her on the bed, after she cooked for me and after she missed me that badly when I'm not around, I know that it is true. I dare to call it love.
So I tried to make her understand, I tried to help her to untangle her feelings, I tried to heal her from her broken heart, slowly, without forcing her, I let her take her own action. And to my surprise, she responded and reciprocated my feelings more than I expected.
But now I know, that we're not meant to be together. A long time love is hard to forget. And who am I to her? An ex-enemy, a rival, a fake husband…? She hates me to begin with. Why would she learn to love a monster like me…?
"Where?" my wife had suddenly pulls her hand from me. She looked uneasy, her hand is trembling. And I know right then that something is wrong. "Okay," she turned off the phone and putted it back to her bag.
"Is everything okay?" I asked concernedly.
"It's Peeta, he's in coma right now! I have to go to the hospital!" Katniss looked at me in terror and started to walk away quickly.
While I just froze at my place. What? Lover boy is hurt, now he's at the hospital? So what!? I'm sure if she doesn't come he still get the treatment he'll need. "Katniss?" I called my wife and tried to walk at the same pace with her.
"Don't try to stop me!" she warned me before I could even say something.
"Calm down," I did want to stop her. "Let me take you there," but now I know that it's not the wisest thing to do. I took her hand in mine carefully. She didn't resist, so I took her to the car.
She didn't say a word when we're on our way, and I couldn't read her expression, but I knew she's thought really hard, so I decided to keep quiet and drive. Damn you lover boy. But even though you are so damned I need to show to Katniss that she can rely on me and I'm not that hot blooded head Cato anymore, at least not before I think about it through.
When we arrived, she jumped out of the car as soon as possible without saying anything to me. "I'm here for Peeta Mellark," she practically ran to the lobby and yelled at the receptionist.
"Miss Everdeen, this way please," and before I could catch on with what happened, some nurse showed up and lead us to some room.
"How is he?" Katniss asked worriedly as we walked in haste.
"He'll be fine after he received blood transfusion from you," the nurse replied.
Wait, what? "What blood transfusion?" I snapped.
"Mine, he needs it," Katniss faced me and explained.
"Are you going to donate your blood?" I pulled her roughly to knock some sense to her.
"We have the same type, so why not?" Katniss pulled her hands from me angrily. This young woman! She's so stubborn sometimes, even more than me! How could she be so rush in making her decision? She was just sick and had healed not long ago!
"She can't donate her blood," so if I can't deal with her I have to deal with her nurse.
"What the hell?" she protested. Anger flickered in her eyes.
"But Captain, he desperately needs the transfusion," the nurse tried to calm me down.
Watching Katniss see me like that, with disbelief and judgment, about how selfish being I am and an evil person… It hurts my feeling so bad. She got no idea… But I refuse to make her or anyone know that! "My wife just got healed, she got anaemia and she's on medication right now! That means, there's drug running on her blood," I explained furiously. "Still insisting to take her blood?" I asked, getting frustrating with both women.
"Oh my God…" Katniss mumbled and her face gets paler as realization hit her. Now you remember!
"Then I'm sorry Miss Everdeen, we can't take your blood," the nurse apologized.
"Okay…" Katniss said quietly with her head down, eyes pinned to her shoes. "What now then?" she asked again, her voice shaking.
Oh man! What have I got myself into? "Take mine," I offered.
"What?" both of them are looking at me confusedly.
"I'm type O, universal donor. I'm not on any meds and I'm healthy as a horse," I explained and sighed.
"T-this way please," the nurse looked rather confused with the change of the tide, but started to walk again.
"Cato," I followed her but Katniss grabbed my arms.
"I rather you didn't come," I said to her coldly. She let go of my hands, and allowed me to walk with the nurse.
The nurse asked me some question as procedure. Then when we arrived at the room, we get it on with it. For me, the needle and the blood transfusion didn't hurt at all, it was hurt the most was, beside my own wife didn't trust me; I just kissed her in less than an hour ago, she kissed back. I thought we had a chance, but we don't. Her image when she worried about her ex, even when she was mad and snapped at me, it pains me more than anything…
"Where is my wife?" I asked at the nurse when the process is finished.
"She's in ICU," said the nurse as she took my blood pouch.
"With Peeta Mellark?" I asked again as I come down from the chair.
"Yes," she smiled at me. "Don't do anything heavy…," and reminded me with a series of forbidden action.
I nodded. Put my watch back and left the room. I hesitate at first. Should I go to ICU? No way in hell. But I can't leave Katnisss behind. So halfheartedly I went there, and found Katniss sleeping on her chair. I came in and glanced at the fucking lover boy. Well, he does look awful. Good for him, fuck you lover boy. Then carefully, I putted the car key on Katniss' lap. I don't want to wake her, she probably feels tired after playing with me all day, and there's no use to it since I know she won't leave until this man-I glared at Peeta Mellark, heal, or better, whichever.
If not for her, I let him die already. Oh, and by the way, I can kill him right here right now, but no, I only kills mutts. No humans, no matter how annoying they are. Just so you know, I never really tried to kill katniss and her team, I just want them to injured badly, but not dead.
/
It's about 9 p.m when I heard the apartment door creaked open. Someone stepped in and I don't even have to bother to look to know that it is her. I just sit quietly on the couch and watching TV. Meanwhile, Katniss walked at me carefully, and sat next to me. I ignored her and pinned my gaze on the flat screen while she looks anxious.
"I'm sorry," she finally apologized after what seemed like forever.
"I know," I mumbled coldly.
"I shouldn't treat you like that, especially after we just…" she shook her head in disappointment.
"Kiss?" I cut. "Don't worry, it's just a game, a dare. Did you forget?" and scoffed sinisterly.
She froze. "You can't just play along with somebody's feelings by kissing them," she said patiently even though I know that she is beginning to feel upset. And judging by her words, look who's talking.
"Who are we kidding?" this time I laughed sarcastically and stood up.
"What do you mean?" she's stared at me intensely.
"Here I tried to-!" I tried not to yell even though my head already felt so hot. I finally looked at her and regret it. She sits still and looked at me pleadingly, there's hickey on her left shoulder, and her lips makes me imagine about what we've been through. This is really confusing and really hard because we can't just kiss and make up! She had no idea, did she? That what I want right now is just yell fuck with the world, shove her onto our bed and have my wicked way with her!
"Keep our marriage harmony, I know. But Peeta is still my friend, he's in a coma right now," she nodded and stood up too, explained impatiently. That's not what I meant to say to her, and not that kind of response I wanted to hear from her. She thinks she knows but she has no idea what I mean.
"You know what? This is not going to work," I stormed to our room.
"What is not going to work?" she followed me, her voice shaken a bit.
"You are clearly still in love with him. I don't want to be a barrier between you two," I snapped as I get my bag on the bed. I prepared it earlier if something like this were to happen. I don't want to be angrier than this, I don't want to start breaking things, and mostly, hurt her. "We'll get divorce after a year. I hope you're happy."
"What the hell was that supposed to mean?" she pulled my shoulder to face her abruptly. Now she really is angry.
"The truth!" I yelled at her. "Seriously, he still loves you too. And I could probably have asked Glimmer, she still waits for me anyway," and walked pass her.
"Oh yeah?" she yelled at me too. "Then you should probably married her in the first place!"
"Don't. Try. To make me angry!" I stopped, warned her and put pressure in each of my words.
"Well, you already are and so am I!" she came to me again.
"This is so stupid and a colossal waste of time!" I averted my eyes. Because it's weaken me.
"I tried Cato, I tried! Yes, I lost control over him once or twice, and I can't promise you if I will not do it again. But give me a chance, a year!" to my surprise, she suddenly put her arms on my shoulder and pleaded.
"What for? To make sure your feelings are real? You don't even have any, for me," I looked through her eyes and before I knew it, I'm feeling really broken.
"I tried to get over him… and I thought you and I, we could be best friends…" she looked guilty but still trying to convince me. But now, I'm already beyond anger and if this continue I probably shove something already.
"Best friend my ass," I stare at her coldly. "Fuck our marriage!" and left.
"Where are you going?" she ran at me and yelled.
"Work!"
"You still have some days off left!" she reminded me angrily.
"Do I look like I care?" I smirked at her and opened the door.
"Cato, I swear, if you don't hear my opinion and walk out that door, I won't hear yours either," she suddenly said calmly, dangerously calm.
"Well, you already did," but I don't care and still exited our apartment.
I am so glad that she doesn't follow me, because if she did, I wouldn't know what to do. I don't know where to go, but I rather stay outside all night than spending time with her. Besides, she must've been really angry at me too, and from our conversation earlier, her hand was probably itching to slap me. There's no way she would be sad, or even cry for my departure, cry for someone like me.
QQQ
My eyes feels really hot after he slammed the door and walk away, my heart throbbing painfully in my chest, my mind went blank-I can't think, and all energy somehow drained from my body-I can't move and stop him. Suddenly, I feel something wet flowing on my cheeks. I touched them and looked at my wet palms.
Is this… tears…?
Did I just…- Am I crying… for him?
I tried to catch my breath and steady myself so I could get a hold of myself, but it doesn't work. My throat and my mouth betray me, and I let out a loud sob as I sit on the floor. What is happening? I thought as I hugging my knees. I know I was wrong to dashed to Peeta when he and I just having a date, after he's done so much to me. I know I was wrong for feeling so overwhelmed about Peeta, for worrying so much after he tried so hard to calm me down, I even thought that he's still the same evil Cato for trying to stop me from rescuing he's enemy, but instead, it was his blood that saved Peeta, not mine.
But he didn't have to be that mad, right? He didn't have to walk out that door and leave me? Wait a minute, why am I feeling like this? This is too much. I mean, if I am sad because my best friend, my partner, just left because I still love somebody I shouldn't, I just have to apologize and try to talk to him in the next day, right? I'm not supposed to mess up like this! These… feelings! It Only happens when I am broken hearted, like when someone really important for me in trouble or when I just broke with Peeta.
Wait… I stopped crying and tried to clear my head until I finally arrive at a conclusion. I fell in love with Cato.
XXX
"What?" Clove opened her apartment room. Before I knew it, my feet already took me here. Well, she's my best friend after all. I stared at her and observe. She always looks grumpy, but somehow, right now she's grumpier than ever, like I was disturbing her or something.
"I need a place to stay," I said and tilt my head to my bag on the floor.
"Not here," she shook her head instantly and almost closed her door in front of my face.
"Why?" if I'm not stopping her.
"Duh, you're married!" she's stating the obvious and looked annoyed because I still looked at her in shock and my hand is still on her door.
"Clove, is everything okay?" suddenly, a man's voice heard from inside of her room. So she's having company. I can't see his figure.
But I recognize that voice. "Is that…?" I stuttered in disbelief.
"Yes, so you really need to go," she smiled quickly.
"Wait- what?" I dumbfounded as she moved my hand. Really? Gale? "Shit," I cursed as I watched the door close in front of me.
Fine, next stop then.
"Hi," I said after I arrived at my next option.
"There is an urgent mission?" Marvel stared at me confusedly from behind his door.
"No," I shook my head.
"Emergency?" he guessed.
"No," I answered.
"Somebody in our team died?" he looked terrified.
"Definitely not," I shook my head again, harder this time. Well, it's not his fault his acting like this, I am a bad team mate, I never went and hang out at his place, except for calling him for urgent duty. "I need a place to stay," I said slowly.
He stared at my bag. "Your wife dumped
"We just got into a fight," I answered quickly. "Can I come in?" and looked around in discomfort. This is really awkward, and if some Capitol fanatic sees me like this, I'll probably end up as a newspaper head line tomorrow.
"Sure," he nodded quickly and stepped away from the door so I could go in.
I walked in. He closed the door, locked it, and I followed him as he gestured me into the living room.
"Coffee, tea, anything?" he offered as he watched me sit on the couch.
"No thanks, I just need some place to sleep. This couch is fine," I replied and forced a smile.
"Okay," he nodded. Then he just stood there, looking hesitant. "Do you want to talk about it?"
I really appreciate his concern. "I'm good, Marvel. Just go back to sleep." But really, all I need now is some time to sleep. To be alone.
QQQ
My pager is beeping wildly, causing me to wake up that instance. I probably… messed up, but when it comes to duty I should not messed up. I read the content and raised a brow. Haymitch request my presence as soon as possible in the head quarter. I glance to the alarm clock on the table next to the bed, it's showing 4.30 am.
It must've been really important.
"What is it?" I asked as soon as I reach the hallway before the meeting room. Haymitch was standing there with a cup of coffee, he's clearly waiting for me anxiously.
"Definitely not good," he shook his head and his expression looked a bit relief when he saw me.
"Let me guess? Disaster?" I scoffed in sarcasm as I walked at him.
"Definitely yes, or more," he sighed, put his free hand at my back and lead me in.
"Ah, there you are Captain Everdeen, please join us," President Snow greets me flatly as I entered the room.
I personally hate him very much for his injustice government, his greedy ambitions, and in short, his tyranny. He rarely showed up unless there's an emergency, so I guess I'll meet one. His negative traits usually concern me when I'm with him in one room, I always feel that he had his hands on my neck, but he must know that I'm not going down without a fight.
Unfortunately, a blonde haired man with sturdy body who stands beside him caught my attention. I feel really nervous, guilty, and angry when I saw him staring at me as if nothing happened last night, as if we didn't scream and yell at each other. I don't even know where he went last night and that makes me so worried and upset. Well, I guess he's just being professional, and I guess I have to be more like him. A mission is a mission after all, and if somehow we arrange to have this same mission, just the both of us, I guess I have to be cool headed and accept that like a great tribute should.
"Good morning president," I collect myself as I approach the table they're circling to. There's a 3D map on it.
"Morning," Snow nodded. "Now, Brutus, if you would be so kind," then smiled at Cato's mentor who's busy at operating the map.
"There's a mutts attack in district 11," Brutus started.
"It's a rampage, they literally crawling in that place," Haymitch cut in, and I'm sure that it's a signal that he really doesn't like what's going on and what's behind that.
"Thank you, Haymitch," the President stared at him coldly, he clearly dislike him for being impolite.
"Since when?" Cato asked and I almost jumped out from my skin. How on earth?
"More or less, an hour ago," Brutus answered.
"Is there still any civilians? Survivors?" I looked around the map and observed it quietly.
"Definitely," Haymitch nodded.
"Yes there is, but," Brutus raised his tone, starting to get annoyed. "It's not a rescue mission that you are going to perform, that's why we only call both of you here," he added.
"But, what about them?" is what I asked, not what kind of mission we are going to face.
"They will have to wait," Snow intersect, also raised his tone. "And don't worry, they are very clever, they will retreat to the mountain or anywhere they can find." I guess he wants to show us that he has the power among us and we just have to do what the mission tells us to do.
"That's not very helpful," I looked at him directly to his eyes. I'm being very stubborn, I know, that's one of my specialties.
"It will help if you succeed," he gave me a warning look and I know that I have to shut up. No matter how I'm concerned about all those people, he has got a point.
"The attack was led by a mini queen. Kill her quietly, then the rest of the mutts will come to the surface, and we finally be able to send the whole troop to finish them all," Brutus explained, exchanging look with Cato and I. "We can't send the whole troop because its a mob, and we need to minimise casualties. They will all come out after you killed the mini queen, and then, that is your job to lure them outside the city, where the whole army awaits," he finished after he showed us the geography of the place and the situation that is waiting for us.
"So this mini queen, is a top rank?" Cato speaks again.
"Exactly," Haymitch clapped his hands. "She'll make her mob chase you till' the end of hell if they have to,"
Now I know why he dislikes the plan. He doesn't like that the president and the government ignored the people in district 11, and he dislikes the idea that one of us will be killed by the mob after we finished the queen. We learned that mutts had this mental connection, that's why they can organize the plan perfectly, the leader can stay and hide in one place while it orders the subordinate to attack from a distant. Well, they're not that good at first, but like us they practiced too, and I agree that practice makes perfect. In short, when we kill the queen, which had bigger and stronger mental power than others (that's why it's the queen), she quickly send a signal to the future queen and send the mental image of the killer to its successor. And that successor, will send the rest of the mob to hunt the killer.
"We are going to provide a chopper for you to go home early and excuse you from the battle, so don't worry," Brutus calmed us then glared at Haymitch. "Now, it's up to the two of you of how you will carry out the operation and who will kill the queen," then he turn off the map and said seriously to both of us.
"Certainly," Cato nodded. From his flickered eyes, I can see that this will be very challenging to him. What a maniac.
XXX
I finally finished at putting my last item into the backpack. Now I'm ready to rock, and probably saved some lives on the way. Well, I hope a lot, but orders are orders. Stupid Katniss, she knows that but she still had to ask that early huh? Didn't she know that Snow could suddenly cut her head off? Well, I guess that's just her specialty, getting other people irritated by her stubbornness.
It's kind of cute actually, when she walked in and her eyes widen in surprise when she saw me, and when she's being so stubborn. But then I remembered how mad I was at her and all of that disappeared, mostly. I can't believe that we're going to have a mission together, I'll be damn. The last time we had something like this we didn't cooperate well, let's say that she left me and I left her, we left each other to dead-correction, to be seriously injured.
"Hi," I tried to hide my surprise when she showed up just after I left the locker room.
"Morning," I smiled at her. "Did you sleep well?" I asked. "I certainly did,"
She suddenly grabbed my arm, forcing me to stop pacing. "Can we…" she tried to look the perfect words, and damn, my lips are itching to crush onto hers, especially when she struggles like this, I just want to kiss her doubt away. "Act professionally when coming to this operation, and put whatever happen behind us?" she finally said it. "Just until this is over?" and added quickly with apologetic look, afraid that she might be said the wrong things. Well, she didn't, and she's right, we have to be professionals.
"Sure Fire Girl," I nodded and pulled her hands off from me carefully, not to hurt her feelings even though she hurt mine. My heart is aching so badly when our skin touched, and I hate to admit it, but my dick is twitching slowly and painfully in my trousers.
We finally hopped on the jet. We're not talking to each other because we are busy planning in our own mind. Thanks to the jet, we arrived at the hell hole in 15 minutes. "Okay, this is as far as I can drop you," captain Smith yelled at us.
"Thanks," we're standing from our seat and getting ready for jump down.
"Good luck!" I heard him say as I threw myself to the ground.
Katniss landed beside me "Ready?" and I asked her.
"Ready," she nodded.
After that we move, we need to find a safe place to track the queen with our technology, and by Katniss' natural instinct. Luckily, we found some hidden cave and while Katniss is busy thinking and doing anything, I'm bored to death because I don't know how to do anything in a situation like this except swing my sword.
"Okay, we need to go to the town first," she finally finished searching.
"Halleluya," I grunted sarcastically as I cautiously head out. After I make sure that everything is clear, she follows me and we switch position. She leads me with the map, while I'm at the back, guarding.
We arrived at the town (or what remained of it) a couple minutes later. The place was really messed up. There are bodies on the streets, mutts crawling everywhere, patrolling, eating… It makes me sick, they ate and some are still eating the dead people. My blood is boiling, the bloody scenery reminds me at the time when my mother died. I didn't realize that I already took off my sword from it sheath from my back, and was preparing to barge in.
But then, I felt something hold my arm. "What the-?" I looked to my right and found Katniss staring at me worriedly, not angrily or coldly.
"Save your energy, we need to be very stealthy. We wouldn't make it, crossing all of them. We'll be dead before we reach the mini queen," she said seriously, persuasively . Her tone was soft but firm.
"Well, that's not my style," I shook my head and scoffed even though I know she was right.
"Well, you better get a hang of it if you want to make it out alive," she leaned closer at me and whispered, probably trying to calm me down. She obviously doesn't realize that she does more than that. Carefully, she lowered my arm. I gave up and sheathed back my sword, then look at her with an unpleasant look, but that should be enough. "Come?" she smiled lightly, titled her head, and lead me to a more hidden path.
I seriously hate stealth. We have to hide all the time, crawling and sneaking like a coward! Well, not exactly, of course there's a wiser purpose behind that. But I still hate it. We entered the building one by one, avoiding the street, and moving under the shadow. Damn, Katniss is really good. Sometimes I lost her even though I don't admit it. Everything went well until we reached a trap. Yes, a fucking trap! The floor under us suddenly collapsed, bring us one level down.
I growl in pain, I could heard Katniss also moaned weakly somewhere near me, and rubble still falling around us. But what's more dangerous is, I heard a lot of seriously angry snarls. Quickly, I gain my composure and forced myself to get up. I looked around and realized that at least fifty dog-like mutts are surrounding us. I found Katniss who was trying to get up, I ran to her side as fast as I could and helped her back on her feet. Her head was bleeding.
"Well, this is my expertise!" I shouted in excitement and anger as I unsheathed my sword and point it forward.
"Cato-" Katniss mumbled and looked around confusedly, still disoriented.
"Do you have a better idea? We'll be dead if we don't fight back!" I yelled at her and looked impatiently at the mutts that are approaching us slowly yet aggressively, their gesture when they're about to tear us apart.
"I just wanted to say that you hold them as long as you can while I'm looking a way to escape for us!" Katniss yelled back at me, she looked slightly offended as she pulled her bow and arrows.
"Ups!" I apologized. After that, the mutts roared and some of them started to jump at us. My mind went blank, I couldn't hear anything, I lost Katniss, and all I see is crimson red and glittering silver. I feel a lot of stinging pain around my body, but I keep standing and moving my body, dancing with my sword and with my enemies.
I don't know how much time has passed. "Cato, this way!" Katniss suddenly yelled and return me to the reality. My vision became clearer and I tried to look for her in the middle of the chaos. Thank God I found her near some hidden hole on the wall; the twilight sky looked beautiful around her and gave her some illuminating light. She looked really worried, her eyes large and her mouth gapping. She probably just realized that I was surrounded by so many beasts. "Run!" she raised her bow and began shooting, creating a path for me.
I run at her with all my might. The creatures, of course tried to chase and stop me. But Katniss does a wonderful job to stop them. Her eyes are as sharp as an eagle, the orbs looked cold but also fascinating at the same time. I hugged her waist tightly as we meet and struck her down with me, passing the hole, out to the foul smelled open air. We were at the third floor, so we will fall at least two levels down until we reached the ground. Fortunately, Katniss found a good escape spot, we were saved by the trees which grew beside the buildings. Both of us tried desperately to grab onto the branches, or at least minimize the damage of our landing by slowing our pace.
I hit the ground first, then I caught Katniss who succeeded in grabbing the bark, and without thinking about our pain or looking back, we're holding each other hands tightly and running for our lives. I think it was a half an hour later when we finally stopped running and took shelter in some house. After we made sure that the place was clear, we barricaded the door and window, and head to the second floor. Both of us are catching our breath. She sat on the couch next to the window, while I sat on the floor and leaned back to the wall.
When I caught my breath, I glanced at her and found that she was already looking at me. "Oh, you're soaking in blood," I said quietly after I got a better look at her.
"You too," she smiled weakly.
I crawled to approach her, since standing first then walking will waste my energy. "Are you alright?" I reached her head softly and carefully observed it. She clearly surprised by my action, I could see it in her eyes. Hell, I even surprised myself.
"Just a few scratches," she answered. "We need to taking care our wounds," she reminded.
"Right," I nodded in agreement and took off my back pack.
We spend the next half an hour treating our wounds. Neither of us speak. It's nighttime, and there is no light, but we can't risk even a glow, which is why we need to listen our surroundings.
"I hope I can take a bath," she mumbled when we finished. Like me, her wounds are already closed because of the (really high technology) first aid spray that the Capitol gave us by her mentor's order. I have to admit that their team work is really good, and not just the team work but also how they cared about their team.
"Me too," I agreed and looked to the hallway. If this was the headquarters or we had already defeat all the mutts, I don't mind if my entire body covered in blood, I always think that as some kind of celebration, but here, in the middle of the enemy mobs (which can smell blood), that's the whole different story. "I think that's the bathroom," I pointed to the door near the stairs. I do know that it's the bathroom since when we first entered here, the door was already opened and I manage to steal a glance in it.
"Let's check it," she stood up and walked passed me. Her steps are lighter, I don't know if that's because she doesn't feel the pain anymore or because she plays strong.
"Well, there is water," I said after we entered the room and observed it. The half of the large tub filled with water. The amount is a bit more than enough to bathe or clean two decently clean people, but given the circumstances, we're soak in blood-almost dry blood, which means extra scrubbing and cleaning.
"Not quite enough," Katniss sighed heavily, as she stood in front of me. She knew that I'm a high maintenance guy, damn, I always spent more time in the bathroom than her. "You do it, I'll take one tomorrow morning, or when we find other place," she said as she looked up at me.
I looked back at her. There's no way I'll let her stay in that deep and disgusting crimson red. "Well, there's enough for both of us if we take it together," I said seriously as I held her shoulder.
TBC
So, what do you think Katniss will do? /slapped
Peeta always gets in the way, I know. After this he'll get more in the way, this is just the beginning, so brace yourself. Oh, but don't worry, since Katniss and Cato has caught up to their feelings, many interesting event will follow soon. So, finger cross.
The review button should be under this. Thank you for reading, have a great day! :D
