Okay, this is a reward for all your reviews! So nearly at 200! Okay, please just put down a 'good' or 'crap' and tell me what you think of Glato and Keeta! Also, evil Glimer in this chapter. So much fun to write. Also, you guys liked the singing bit, so I included another! No worries, I'm not going to do loads, but I thought it was good!
Cato sighed as he adjusted his tie, thinking, with reason, that he looked stupid, dressed in a Custard coloured suit, which the Capitol stylists thought were 'cool'.
Now that Cinna had defected to join the losers from District 12, he was stuck alone with bad stylists.
He turned away from the mirror, nerves hitting his stomach as he thought about his date with Glimmer. He was sure he was going to mess it up somehow, in some way. Then again, he should have messed it up loads of times before, so he might be fine with that.
He walked out of his room, meeting up with his retinue; Brutus, some stylist, and some random people to make his group look bigger.
"Why are you guys here?" Cato asked, walking up.
Brutus cleared his throat. "We're here to protect you kid, just in case that hot girl-"
"Glimmer."
"Yeah, in case she tries to take you out of action."
"You really think that's going to happen?"
Brutus shrugged. "You tell me?"
Cato shook his head. "You're paranoid."
"Hey, I'm not the one going back into the arena."
Cato nodded. "Yeah, but-"
"In my day, we had to worry about hating everyone! Now you fancy youngsters have these alliances." He shook his head as if he just didn't get it.
Cato frowned. "Yeah… while you work out your trust issues, I'll be having fun."
"Until she kills you," Brutus added nastily.
Cato walked out the door, his retinue following him.
He reached the door as Clove and her retinue came through too.
Clove smiled at him. "Hey Cato? Going down?"
"To the dance, not six feet under," Cato answered warily. "At least, hopefully."
Clove laughed and they led the way out of the doors, and off down the corridors.
Clove took his arm, and Cato tried to jerk away.
"No, just for show. We look united."
"You want to kill me," Cato reminded her.
Clove ignored that. "Do you like my dress?"
Cato glanced down. "I hadn't noticed it." Clove scowled. "But it's beautiful," Cato added, making Clove smile.
He sighed; he was too nice for his own good. They continued to walk down through the building, going through passages that Cato didn't even know existed. They made their way through into a corridor, and emerged in a huge room, with a doorway that led into the main room.
Cato looked at the architecture, separating from Clove, putting his hands in his pockets and walking casually through the room, avoiding people who were already talking and drinking, making curt greetings to sponsors, promising he'd talk to them later.
"What do you think of the room?"
He looked around to see Crane making his way up in a red suit.
"Most impressive," Cato answered tightly.
Crane nodded, his eyes fixed on Cato. "Are you alone?"
"Not for much longer," he answered cryptically.
Crane nodded. "I can imagine."
Cato looked at one of the pillars, carved to look like a tree.
"Search, birds, search,
for the site of your nests
in this high memory
while it is still murmuring."
"Poetry?"
Both Cato and Crane looked around at the unexpected voice.
Glimmer was coming down the staircase, smiling at Cato, her retinue following behind.
Cato nearly gaped as he looked at Glimmer. She was dressed in a classically beautiful dress; emerald, to bring out her eyes, hugging her figure, but covering her with elegance, quite removed from the dress she wore during the Interviews. Her bare skin seemed almost to glow in the light, her hair appearing as spun gold, tied up in an elegant knot.
Cato swallowed. "Yes, uncredited though."
Glimmer nodded. "Like most of us."
She finally reached the bottom, almost gliding towards Cato.
She saw his suit.
"Mustard?" She commented, teasingly.
Cato shrugged. "It was supposed to be custard."
Glimmer brushed down his lapels. "Mustard is more male," she smiled.
Cato offered her his arm. "May I?"
"You may," she almost laughed. Then she spotted Crane.
"Seneca, how are you?"
He smiled at her. "I'm fine. You?"
"Thriving," she answered. "The food is very good here."
Crane inclined his head. "We aim to please."
Glimmer's eyes seemed to mock him. "I'm sure you have plenty of… fun surprises planned for us in the arena."
Crane held up a finger. "I won't spoil anything."
"I'm not sure you could spoil anything Seneca."
Crane smiled. "You'd be surprised."
Glimmer cocked her head. "I'll just have to use my imagination then?"
"As will I," he agreed, his eyes fixed on hers.
Glimmer stared at him, before smiling at him mockingly, and turning to Cato.
"Shall we go in?"
Cato nodded, leading them in. When they'd pulled away enough, he leaned in to Glimmer.
"You can't afford to anger him."
"What's he going to do?" Glimmer asked him. "Throw me into an arena where there is a strong chance of my immediate death? Oh, wait, he's already done that!" Glimmer displayed her teeth again. "Don't read too much into it."
"It's not books I'm worried about," Cato retorted. "It's swords, and killer animals."
"You're scared of me, surely?" Glimmer teased, her emerald eyes fixed on his own.
Cato answered with the only honest answer he had. "Truly."
"Truly?" Glimmer repeated. "Terrified would have boosted my ego more effectively."
"Does that really need help?"
Glimmer laughed, hanging onto his arm. "No, I suppose it doesn't." She sobered as they reached the main ballroom, with a huge dance floor, sponsors and rich Capitol citizens talking to tributes or among themselves.
"Shall we dance?" She asked.
Cato nodded. "Yes."
Glimmer leant in as they reached the floor, and started moving slowly to the music.
"Right, we're going to capture the sponsor's attention through dancing, then, we'll talk to them. We'll get them on our side, no worries."
Cato nodded. "Got it."
Glimmer studied him suddenly. "You can dance right?"
Cato nodded as 'The A Team' started.
White lips, pale face: Cato looked down at Glimmer's slightly surprised face as she adapted to the fact that Cato could dance.
Breathing in snowflakes: The air was cold. Or was that just him, scared as he was, dancing with this incredible woman?
Burnt lungs, sour taste: There was a horrible incense in the air. It made Cato want to gag, and he could see Glimmer was in the same boat.
Light's gone, day's end: The only lights were centered on them.
Struggling to pay rent: He would if he had to pay back that store for those Kooks CDs that Glimmer had brought him.
Long nights, strange men: Cato realised he was a relative stranger to Glimmer, and her to him.
The song continued until the reached the chorus, other voices joining into the tune, and Cato looked around. Everyone was watching them.
The worst things in life come free to us
Cause we're just under the upper hand
And go mad for a couple of grams
And she don't want to go outside tonight
And in a pipe she flies to the Motherland
Or sells love to another man
It's too cold outside
For angels to fly
Angels to fly
Glimmer got closer.
"Good work."
Cato leant down. "I think we're attracting attention," he nodded over to a group of tributes, the Careers and a few other tributes, who were watching them sourly.
Glimmer spun herself on Cato's arm to get a look at them.
"I see them," she said as she fell back into his arms.
"Remind me who they are?"
The music faded out, and other people started joining the floor.
"We best talk to our sponsors soon," Glimmer mused.
Cato spared them a glance. "Who are the tributes?"
Glimmer smiled. "Our alliance."
"Our what?"
"Well, during training I made an alliance with a couple of people-"
"It looks like a lot of people."
"-and I invited them to work with us. But we'll poison them."
Cato whipped his head down. "What?!"
"Listen, silly," Glimmer reprimanded. "We're going to kill all the bad people, then we're going to poison the last people; the tributes in our alliance. In fact, we're going to do it now."
Cato grabbed her as she made to walk away.
"What?" Her eyes blazed.
Cato stared her right in the face. "I never signed up to work with some killers."
Glimmer looked at him with a pitying expression on her face.
"What about me? I'm going to be a killer?"
Cato stuttered. "I- well, that's- it's not the same thing."
Glimmer brushed her hand against his face. "I could kill you now."
Cato grasped her hand, pulling the ring away. "Stop it."
Glimmer grinned. "You want me as an ally, right?"
"Yes."
Glimmer shrugged. "Then you have to take them too. They help the odds."
"Glimmer-"
She pushed away from him and moved towards the food table, Cato following.
"You can't do this," Cato hissed.
Glimmer watched idly as people took food from the tables. "Why not?"
"It's wrong."
Glimmer looked around at him, glee filing her face. "It's wrong? And I suppose its right for them to force us to kill?"
"No, but-"
Glimmer turned away from Cato, and reached down to her leg, pulling out a bottle.
Cato grasped the hand that held it. "Don't. It'll poison innocent people."
"No-one's innocent here," Glimmer snarled.
Cato pulled her arm back. Glimmer sighed. "Sorry Cato."
She grasped his hand with her other hand, and spun like they were dancing, but as she did, she applied force to his pressure points, causing Cato drop her hand, and shudder.
She grabbed his outstretched arm, and locked it in-between her own arms. She twisted it savagely, dislocating Cato's shoulder.
He opened his mouth in pain, before Glimmer locked her lips on his, pushing him back onto a chair, giving the impression that they were kissing vigorously.
She pulled away, looking down on him sadly, Cato losing consciousness.
She touched her lips, and Cato only had one thought of drugged lipstick, before he went black.
Glimmer sighed as she looked at him unconscious in the chair. One of their sponsors finally managed to make his way up to them, but he stopped as he saw the scene.
"What's wrong with him?" He asked as he stared at the Cato.
Glimmer laughed. "Too much to drink, I'm afraid."
The sponsor nodded. "Okay. Should we leave him?"
"Let him sleep it off," she replied.
The man grunted. "Would you dance with me?"
Glimmer's smile lit up the man's world.
"I'd love to. Just give me a second. I'm parched."
The man nodded, making his way to the floor. Glimmer watched him go, before moving to Cato's side.
"Sleep it off Cato, and dream of me," she grinned, pushing his hair back, before walking to the drinks.
10 minutes ago…
Peeta led Katniss to the staircase.
He thought she looked beautiful in a flame red dress, and she thought he looked stupid in a bright pink suit, complete with a hoody in the shape of a birds head.
Haymitch was part of their retinue, and he was smashed as usual. Just even more than normal.
He was bouncing with energy.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, guys, we can dance all night!" He did a little jig, pushing his hair out of his face, but it fell back in so it was a waste to do in the first place.
He saw the stairs.
"Lookie! Stairs to bum glide down!"
And without preamble, he got on his arse and started to 'glide' down the stairs, making little 'bums' as he hit a new stair.
Everyone watched him with disgust as he got to the bottom, Peter and Katniss hurrying after him.
Seneca Crane came up. "Good God man, get off your bottom!"
Woody sprung up, waving a Red Bull. "Youhavemore?"
Crane looked at it. "I think you've had enough."
Woody threw the drink over him and ran into the ballroom, Katniss and Peter following after him.
They backed into the side as sponsors filtered through, before looking at the floor.
'The Monster' and Bubbles were dancing on the floor.
Peter looked at Bubbles in her dress.
"How girls, we have problems too, we're just like you."
Woody slid up, with more Red Bull for them. "I loves that songs!" He started hopping. "Hoths Woodies weh have prowblems tooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oo!"
Peter and Katniss just nodded, moving away.
Katniss looked around. "What do we do?"
Peter shrugged. "I don't know? Dance? Talk to sponsors?"
"We don't have any-"
She was cut off as some Capitol people made their way up.
"Are you Peeta Mellark?"
"I'm Peter Mellark," Peter corrected, holding out his hand.
"Peeta?"
"Peter."
"Right," they shook it. "We want to sponsor you."
"Why?" Peter asked. "Maybe I don't want sponsors."
Katniss looked at him. "Peeta-"
Woody stuck his head over the shoulder of one of the men.
"Ih wants a sponsors!"
He was pushed away.
"Well," one said, as if they had not been interrupted, "we want to sponsor you, because you're so useless it'll be funny to see how long we can keep you alive."
Peeta nodded. "Fair enough."
Katniss looked away as they talked, and, with a shrug, she made her way over to the drinks table.
She looked at 'The Monster', who was asleep on a chair, and made her way over to the 'exotic' drinks section.
She moved up to Bubbles, who was just moving away.
"Excuse me," she said as she brushed past.
Katniss looked at her, in her stupid sexy dress. She consoled herself that she was probably useless, so she needn't worry.
She was just about to take a drink when Peter came up, looking happy.
"Hey, I got us some sponsors, so we're all good."
Katniss picked up a drink. "What one?"
Peeta looked at it, then at her. "I don't drink; not since I sold my kidney."
"How does that stop you from drinking?"
He shrugged. "I don't kno-" they moved out of the way as tributes drank from the drinks, before moving back together. "Yeah, I don't drink. Not much."
Katniss took at drink, wondering at the slightly sour start, but she finished it up, and put it aside.
"Are you actually going to kill anyone in the arena?" She asked.
Peter made a face. "I don't fight."
She frowned. "Yeah you do. You fight all the time. You did during the parade."
Peeta shrugged. "That was dancing. I don't fight."
Marvel had been walking past, but he stopped at that and made his way back.
"What was that?"
Peter turned around to face him. "Hey Marvel, I said I don't fight."
Marvel crossed his arms. "I don't believe it."
"I don't."
Woody came up, his energy wearing off, and now he just looked irritable.
"You do; fucking up the parade like that."
Peeta was closed on both sides. "No, that was dancing! I don't kill, yeah? Just get that."
Marvel backed up, all the tributes and Capitol citizens backing up behind him, Peter setting his jaw and squaring his shoulders.
"Dance off!" Woody cried.
I Don't Fight by Marvel and Peter Mellark feat. Woody Haymitch. Muisc: High School Musical: I Don't Dance (Forgive me)
Marvel: Hey, batter, batter, hey batter, batter swing.
Peter: I've got to just do my thing.
Marvel: Hey, batter, batter, hey batter, batter swing.
I'III show you that it's one and the same:
Killing, dancing, same game.
It's easy:
Step up to the plate, start swingin.
Peeta: I wanna play ball now, and that's all.
This is what I do.
It ain't no kill that you can show me.
Tributes: You'll never know it you never try.
Peter: There's just one little thing, that stops me ev'ry time YEAH.
Marvel: Come on!
Peeta: I don't fight.
Marvel and Tributes: I know you can.
Peter: That ain't right.
Marvel and Tributes: It I could do this, well, you could do that.
Peeta: But I don't fight.
Marvel: Hit it out of the park!
Peter: I don't fight.
Marvel: I say you can.
Peeta: That ain't right, oh.
Marvel: Slide home, you score, swingin on the dance floor.
Peter: I don't fight, no.
Marvel: Hey, batter, batter, hey batter, batter swing.
Peeta: I've got to just do my thing.
Marvel: Hey, batter, batter, hey batter, batter swing.
Two-steppin, now you're up to bat.
Bases loaded, do your dance.
It's easy:
Take your best shot, just hit it.
Peter: I've got what it takes, playin' my game, so you better spin that pitch you're gonna throw me, YEAH.
I'II show you how I swing.
Tributes: You'll never know if you never try.
Peeta: There's just one little thing that stops me ev'ry time. YEAH.
Marvel: Come on!
Peter: I don't fight.
Marvel and Tributes: I know you can.
Peeta: That ain't right.
Marvel and Tributes: It I could do this, well, you could do that.
Peter: But I don' fight.
Marvel: Hit it out of the park!
Peeta: I don't fight.
Marvel: I say you can.
Peter: That ain't right.
Marvel: Slide home, you score, swingin on the dance floor.
Peeta: I don't fight, no.
Woody: Lean back, tuck it in, take a chance.
Swing it out, spin around, do the dance.
But I wanna play ball, not the fight hall.
I'm makin a triple, not a curtain call.
AndI can prove it to you til you know it's true, cause I can swing it, I can bring it to the diamond too.
Peeta: You're talkin a lol; show me what you got. STOP.
Woody: Swiiiiing!
Marvel: HEY
Come on, swing it like this.
Oh, swing!
Woody: Ooh
Marvel: Jitterbug...just like that.
That's what I mean; that's how you swing.
Peter: You make a good pitch but I don't believe.
Marvel: I say you can.
Peeta and Woody: I know I can't.
I don't fight.
Marvel: You can do it.
Peter: I don't fight, no.
Woody: Nothin' to it. Alta boy, alta boy. YEAH.
Hey, batter, batter, hey batter, batter what?
One, two, three, four, everybody swing!
Marvel and Woody: COME ON!
Peeta: I don't fight.
Marvel: I know you can.
Peter: That ain't right.
Marvel and Tributes: It I could do this, well, you could do that.
Peeta: But I don't fight.
Marvel: Hit it out of the park!
Peter: I don't fight.
Marvel: I say you can.
Peeta: That ain't right.
Marvel: Slide home, you score, swingin' on the dance floor.
Peter: But I don't fight, no.
Peter backed up, triumph on his face.
"You can dance," Marvel admitted.
Peter nodded, extending his hand to Katniss.
She took it. "Peter, that was about the coolest-gayest thing I've ever seen."
Peter grinned, leading them onto the floor.
Woody sighed happily, watching them walk off, before making his way over to a table full of Capitol businessmen, flanked by guards.
Woody pushed the two strands out of his face, but they fell back instantly, so it was a waste of time for him to have even done in the first place, before sitting down on the table, leaning back casually.
"How are you gentlemen?"
They grunted greetings.
Woody pushed the two strands out of his face, but they fell back instantly, so it was a waste of time for him to have even done in the first place.
"Right, got the deal?"
"We just need your stake, Haymitch," one replied.
Woody frowned. "Call me Woody. All my friends do-"
"We're not your friends Haymitch Aberthany."
Woody licked his lips. "I don't use that name."
The leader smiled. "No? Why again? Some gay love for Woody Harrelsan, or is it because you can't?"
"What do you mean?"
"We know you've already bet in the past-"
"Yes, but-"
"-and lost. You had to drop your name."
Woody scowled. "I thought the deal was, Peter Mellark wins the games, and I get a lot of money."
"We're just voicing our concerns on your ability to deliver the money if you should lose, Mr. Aberthany."
"Woody Haymitch," Woody corrected.
"You and Peeta should start a club," the leader mocked.
Woody scowled. "I don't need this shit." He made to stand.
"Mr. Aberthany, if you should lose, we all know the consequences?"
Woody licked his lips. "Keep your threats. Peter's going to win."
"Keep that attitude."
Woody pushed the two strands out of his face, but they fell back instantly, so it was a waste of time for him to have even done in the first place, drinking his Red Bull.
"We're done," Woody stated, walking away. He looked at Peeta and Katniss dancing on the floor, Katniss actually laughing and hoped to God that Peter had some very generous sponsors.
The song 'Wavin' Flag', the Haiti version where all those Canadian artists took part, was just finishing.
Woody listened to the singer finish the song.
He went up to Peter and Katniss.
"Hey, whose the girl finishing the song? She sounds hot. I'd bang her."
Peter frowned. "That's Justin Beiber, Woody."
"Oh."
Cato opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings.
He was lying on a bed, in his room, his jacket was missing and his tie was gone.
He sat up, looking around, tensed.
Glimmer was in a corner, her bare back on display, and Cato almost felt his anger abate in the view of the smooth skin, lean and-
He shook his head. "Here to finish me off?"
Glimmer continued to look at the object she was holding.
"Good evening to you too, Cato."
"What are you doing?"
Glimmer turned, brushing her hair out of her face. "Is this your family?"
She held up the picture, which contained Cato at 11 with his mother and father.
"Drop it," Cato told her.
"Oh," Glimmer gasped. "That's put me in my place." She cocked her head to a side, smiling at him like she was about to slit his throat, but she put the picture down.
Cato propped himself up, his arms shaking.
"Don't," Glimmer told him.
"Why?" He demanded.
"You'll hurt yourself," she made her way over to him, and pushed him down, his shaking muscles unresisting.
She kept her hand on his chest, rubbing it slightly.
"Relax Cato; I'm not trying to kill you."
He almost let his eyes shut from the soothing motion of her hand on his chest.
"What happened with-"
"I poisoned the drinks," she answered curtly.
Cato dropped back completely. "That wasn't fair."
Glimmer smiled at him. "I love that you care. You're so selfless. It's very sexy, if I say so myself."
Cato tried to frown but found he couldn't.
"What did it do?" He asked wearily.
Glimmer sighed. "Nothing yet. The affects will take place later. Until then it will be dormant."
"How long?"
Glimmer grinned at him. "Cato seems to be very interested, doesn't he? Is he, dare I say it, happy?"
Cato grunted, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it felt… slightly good to be part of an attempt to take out the Tributes. After all, they couldn't all win.
"Maybe a week," Glimmer started, "enough time to allow us to pick off a few tributes."
"What does the poison do?"
"It's a modified version of Tracker Jacker venom. They'll be dead within minutes, and those who don't, will be delusional, weak, in short, ripe pickings for us."
"What about the Capitol citizens who took it too?"
"As I said; no-one's innocent."
Cato looked into her eyes. "You're… evil, you do now that?"
Glimmer moved her face in closer. "That's sweet of you to say."
"How can you like that? Do you want to be horrible?"
Glimmer drew back slightly. "I'll have plenty of time to work on being good if I win these games. Until then, kindness gets you killed."
"I'm dead then."
Glimmer flashed her teeth at him. "Oh, no, no, Cato; you have me, remember?"
Glimmer's desperate to win. Tell me what you thought of the clash between her and Cato's morals. Also, who was your favourite artist in the 'Wavin' Flag: Haiti Edition'? if you haven't heard it, type it in on Youtube.
Anyway, tell me what you thought of Woody's gambling, Peter and Marvel's dance off, and Cato and Glimmer's contrasting personalities. Please review!
