I do not own the Hunger Games.

A/N The confusing POVs is evidence that my writing skills are still shoddy. Upon review of my previous chapters, I cringe at the obvious mistakes, whether it's grammatical or a misspelled word. Nonetheless, it was appalling, as such, I profusely apologize to my readers for the poor quality. Hope to improve it further as I go along. Though, I'll probably change the previous chapters in the future.

Chapter 12

Cato

"… Thank you." And the three of us bowed out. District 10 was better than District 11. Nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual stench of depravity common among the District outliers, still, compared to 11 and 12, the crowd here looks less starved.

The speech we delivered is now written and stamp-approved by the Capitol. No more talk of rebellion, only the privilege of participating in the Games.

I almost hurled while reciting it.

Treading back to the Train platform, I walk silently beside Katniss, occasionally brushing my fingers over her knuckles as we walked. She looks at me in the corner of her eye and I could see a bit of a smile tugging at her lips whenever we make contact.

It feels nice.

Upon entering the train, I instantly place my hand on the small of her back, guiding her towards my compartment. However, before we reach our destination, something or someone stops us. Looking over, we see the District 12 mentor eyeing the hand I placed on Katniss' back.

"What's going on?" He asks scrunching his eyebrows in confusion. "I may be drunk 90 percent of the time but I still know that" He gestures towards my hand touching Katniss "… that wasn't there yesterday."

Katniss, looking irritated, glares at her mentor as she answers him straight, "We're together now, Haymitch."

"What! When did this happen?" He exclaims, watching Peeta march past us, with his fists tightly clenched at his side. We hear his door slam shut.

"Last night." Was Katniss' clipped reply, she stares at her mentor in challenge, hands akimbo, as if daring Haymitch to contradict her.

"What the hell happened last night?" He demands, flailing his hands when suddenly, he stops, eyes widening as if hit with a horrifying thought, "Don't tell me you two did it!" Haymitch exclaims in panic. My lips twitch, their mentor is quite the pervert to jump to that conclusion.

Katniss turns red in embarrassment, "We didn't do it, Haymitch!" she stomps her foot in frustration. "We just slept together!"

Silence met her response.

I throw back my head, laughing uproariously. In the corner of my eye, I see her mentor suppress a grin.

"Oh, you know what I mean!" Katniss elbows me in irritation. After which, she stomps to our room in a huff. Looking after her retreating form fondly, I was just about to follow when Haymitch stops me again.

"Why are you doing this, Boy?" turning to Haymitch, I raise an eyebrow in inquiry. "You never showed the least bit of interest in the girl during the Games, why now?"

Shrugging nonchalantly, I stare at him directly and say, "I don't really know, it just happened and at the same time, I feel as if it should have happened sooner. It's complicated, can't really explain it."

"That's a flimsy reason to break up Panem's Starcrossed Lovers'! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I didn't break them up, Haymitch" My voice becomes deeper in anger. "Katniss did. We got together after they broke up." Stomping closer to the mentor, I imitate Katniss stance earlier, I was taller than District 12's mentor and as such, took great pleasure in being able to stare him down.

"And why do you think she broke up with Peeta, huh? You're not stupid, you know perfectly well, she's been treating him like crap ever since she got mixed up with you!" Their mentor emphasizes that point by jabbing his finger at me—he obviously has a soft spot for Loverboy; too bad he's the only one who thinks that way in this merry little group.

Yet, as I contemplate his answer, I can't help the smile that creeps up my face. After all, Haymitch just implied, albeit indirectly, that Katniss has been developing feelings for me long before this Victory Tour. Seeing my smile, the scowl on his face deepens. As such, I wipe the smile off my face and answer him sincerely, "If that's true, then that's all the more reason to break up." Schooling my features to appear neutral, I quietly add. "Because if what Katniss felt for Peeta was true, then my presence shouldn't have made a difference." Turning my back on him, I throw some parting words over my shoulder intending to go straight to my room, "But it did, Haymitch and that's the problem."

Unfortunately, their mentor isn't finished and his less-than-sober disposition increased his volume a bit too much. "You can't give her anything, Boy! You're still bound to the Capitol and you're dumber that I thought, if you think that they'll let you go just because you're making moon eyes at the Girl on Fire!" He stops and then continues on nastily, "Or is that what you want? Tired of being the Capitol's whore, now you're trying to wriggle yourself into the nice little set up that Peeta and Katniss have?… News flash, Two, Katniss isn't giving up their Lovers routine!"

My eyes snap shut in consternation, hoping that Katniss didn't hear that last sentence. My fists tight in barely suppressed rage, I try to get my breathing under control. "My relationship with Katniss was never about me gaining anything. I already know that she's going to continue with that farce and that's okay, because what we do or feel for each other doesn't involve you or any of them. Unlike that orchestrated confession televised to millions, ours isn't for public consumption. It's between the two of us, no one else's. Which is why, you don't get to say anything to her or to me about anything." My shoulders slump a bit, my energy suddenly drained, "I'll be seeing her flirting with Mellark soon enough and she'll be seeing me do the same with those freaks, so for just a little while, I'm requesting you to just leave us alone."

With those final words, I stride straight to our room.

Opening the door, I was a bit alarmed at seeing Katniss simply sitting on my bed staring at nothing. Looking lost to the world.

"What's with that look?" I joke, casually strolling inside the room. I stand near her waving my hands in front of her eyes.

Katniss gazes at me with a forlorn expression. Reaching for my hand, she clasps it, pulling me to sit beside her, "I heard what Haymitch said, he had no right to call you that …" I shrug my shoulders.

"I don't really care what he thinks as long as you don't think of me in that way." Looking at our clasped hands, I turn mine over so that I'm the one encompassing hers.

"Still… he's been a Victor for several years now, the very least he could have been is tactful." She frowns at that and the small spark of anger I see in those grey depths is enough to revitalize the energy I've lost during my confrontation with Haymitch.

"But what he said was partially true, at least for now, I am like that to those freaks."

"No, Cato." She grips my hand tighter and uses her other hand to hold my arm. "You're not. You didn't have a choice in this, they didn't give you one."

"It's part of becoming a Victor and I wanted to be a Victor."

"You chose to be a Victor, not to be that other thing for them. It's different. You, of all people, should see that now." She whispers, snaking her arms around me. "Sometimes, I wonder if what we're doing is really wise. Starting a relationship with you is bound to be both painful and wonderful. But I'm afraid that the former will offset the latter by a mile." Burying her head on my shoulders she asks the one question that I dreaded since the beginning of the Victory Tour, "What will happen to us when we get to the Capitol?"

"Truthfully, I don't know. The optimistic side of me likes to think that we'll still be together most of the time but I know that you'll be busy with Mellark and me with others." I sigh in resignation. "But regardless, I'd still want you, even if it's only for a minute in each day."

At that, Katniss stares at me and nods, "I agree, it's worth it, we're worth it." Hugging her tight, I feel a tightening in my chest.

My smile becomes fragile as I think about our circumstance, I keep her closer and tighter to me. "For now, let's not think about it." When I see her protesting, I touch my lips to hers briefly to silent it. "Don't fret, Katniss, we still have nine Districts left, we shouldn't waste that time bickering over what's to come." Hugging her tightly, Katniss' stiff countenance slowly crumbles until I feel her small hands over my back, returning my strong embrace. I will never tire of this. Sniffing her neck, I whisper lightly in her ear, "Let's get to bed."

"Technically, we're already in bed." Her pink lips quirks in mischief and I know that the gloom for this night is dispelled with.

Katniss

I kiss him lightly, on his cheeks, his neck, his ear, and lips. Just small pecks; nothing heavy. Ever since being with Cato the night before, I can't seem to control my impulses. His hands slowly trace patterns on my back and arms. Our legs entwining once again.

How strange, I've been with Peeta for weeks now but our physical contact never amounted to this. While Cato, who's only been with me the night before, is already advancing quite significantly in that area.

I was just comparing my two experiences when Cato suddenly surges up and holds onto my waist. He stares at me long and hard as if asking for permission and once I nodded my consent, he starts to lean onto me. Already knowing his request, I close my eyes and wait for his lips to touch mine. Upon contact, he groans and I moan. The warmth in my stomach rolls and the slight wetness I feel gathering below caused by his kisses is, though embarrassing, also exciting. The air inside our shared compartment becomes humid and our breathing turns ragged due to our nocturnal activities. Bed sheets become tangled due to our constant shifts in position and clothing become stifling.

We are moving too fast! Was my last thought before he latches onto my neck. Straddling his hips and staring at the ceiling, I try to shake away the cloud of arousal that he incites in me but coming from the hard thing nudging the cleft between my legs, I would venture that he is also equally affected. "Cato…" I breathe. "Cato… we have to slow down." I try to pull his head from my neck but he bucks up slightly and the grinding causes me to whimper and clutch his shoulders in exquisite pleasure. What was that?

Wanting to repeat the feeling, I push myself down on him. He groans in response and this panics me.

"Cato, we have to stop…" I whisper, my voice trembling a bit from the sensation. He looks to me blearily and leans his forehead to my chest, "Let me make you feel good, Katniss. I promise, you won't regret it." His arms start to massage my hips, slowly creeping up my sides. In return, my hands shift and knead his muscled back.

Looking at him again, I contemplate on whether to do it. His pleading look is too tempting right now. "Please…" he whispers near my mouth, kissing my lips lightly. Too overwhelmed to speak, I simply nod.

With my consent, Cato changes our position, placing me back down the small bed, he slowly lifts my sleep shirt. Leaning up a bit, I let him remove it completely, baring my upper body to his gaze. His pupils dilate and his eyes, which are normally clear starts to darken with desire. This causes my pulse to beat erratically and my confidence to build a bit. His mouth touches my lips yet again, urging them to open. I comply and our tongues battle, his breath sweet and warm mingled with mine. I would gladly kiss him like this for the rest of my days. After what feels like hours but in reality is just a few seconds, he traces his mouth away and he started to nudge my chin up, licking and sucking on my neck is quite familiar since we've already done it yesterday. What's not familiar is when he shifts further down towards the swells of my breast. Kissing the top of each mound lightly, he licks a path around it until he reaches my nipple. Flicking his tongue continuously over one and repeating the action on the other, I gasp as he sucks it in his mouth.

Keeping his head on my chest, I put my arms around his shoulders and shudder, moaning erotically. Did that sound really come from me?

But he wasn't finished, after giving both equal attention, he starts to go further down, dipping his tongue in my navel causes me to arch a bit off the bed. When I dropped down again, a creaking sound emitted from the bed, which stops us momentarily. Looking down, I see him smirk lasciviously and place a finger over his lips, an order to keep silent.

Reaching the edge of my shorts, he hooks his fingers and slowly pulls down my underwear and bottom sleepwear in one go. I was now completely naked beneath him. Watching his descent warily, I pull one of our pillows and hold it over my head to muffle the sounds that I'm making once I feel the first touch of his tongue on my most private place. After an eternity of it, the knot that tightened with each lick released. My spasms repeated over and over that I almost thought that I'll lose consciousness from sensory overload. I bite the pillow hard.

Still slightly shaking, I feel him crawl up towards me. Lying down beside my curled position, he puts his arms over me, hugging my bare form to his. Looking over my shoulder, I pant and ask a question. "We should really get a more private place for this…" I say quiveringly.

He laughs at that and I smile, though my breathing remains erratic. Turning fully to his side so that I'm facing him, I wrap my arms around his waist but wriggle slightly as I feel the wetness between my legs. I blush in consternation. Cato looks at me a long time and smiles in amusement.

Slowly, he gets up and walks over to a water bowl situated in the corner of the compartment. Grabbing a hand towel, he wets it a bit and comes back to our bed. Sitting at the end, he grabs my leg and pulls me toward him. When I deciphered his intention of cleaning me, I start to kick out. This is so embarrassing.

He just laughs and hauls me to him. "Let me do this for you, Katniss." Once finished, my face is as red as the flames associated with my Capitol persona. Going back to my side, he crushes me to him.

Yawning, I snuggle closer to him, unmindful of the state of my undress. His bare chest pressed to mine feels really good. So this is what those girls were talking about.

Back in 12, my classmates always compare their boyfriend's prowess in bed. A lot of them complain that the boys of their age are usually selfish when it comes to pleasuring women. I guess I don't have that problem with mine. I snicker.

How surprising it is that the Brutal Cato is so giving in bed. Or maybe not so surprising, I frown at this, with the number of women flailing themselves at him, it's no doubt that they wanted this kind of pleasure with him. My arms tighten around him, subconsciously. I know that possessiveness is said to be an unattractive trait for your partner but when females from different age brackets constantly covet your lover, you tend to be like that.

Hmmm, lover, it's true. Cato is my lover, we never truly did the act but there's no doubt that our actions tonight constitutes those between lovers. Yesterday night, he became my boyfriend, tonight—my lover. Really, I'm a bit apprehensive and excited of what he's going to be tomorrow night.

As Cato strokes my head, I snuggle closer to his side. My eyebrows knitting in anger, I hated what Haymitch said to him tonight. He wanted to hurt Cato, that's why he said that word. And I know that despite his seeming indifference, that Cato was hurt upon hearing that. Unfortunately, I couldn't undo it. What I can do, however, is make him pay. He better be prepared tomorrow… was my last thought before Cato's gentle strokes put me to sleep.

Haymitch

I shouldn't have said that to the boy. Even with brandy coursing through veins, I still knew that what I said crossed a line. No mentor, regardless of the District, have a right to call a Tribute, much less, a Victor, that word. It was cruel and thoughtless. And I knew that it would hurt him… but then again, I wanted to hurt him.

Slumping down on the bed inside my compartment, I regard the bottle in my hand. Really, I never did experience doing those things because I was less desirable to the Capitol, coming from the coal district and all that. So, I don't really know what it feels like to be used in that way. I suffered in the hands of Snow, true, like all the other Victors before me but I was never violated in that way.

Well, I hope that I'll still remember this conversation with myself when I wake up… but I really doubt it… Nonetheless, I owe that boy an apology.

Katniss

District Nine is full of grain, literally. I never really cared for it but I know that Peeta is excited. After all, coming from a bakery, he should be most appreciative of the commodity rampant in the District.

Me? I'm grateful because I wasn't the one who killed their Tributes, however, I know that Cato is a bit uncomfortable because both District Nine tributes died in the bloodbath, most likely slain by the Careers.

This Victory Tour must be the worse for him out of all of us. Yet, he puts on a brave face and smiles reassuringly whenever he catches me staring.

His stare combined with his deep voice as he starts his speech suddenly brings to mind the pleasure he brought me to the night before and this is really not the place to be thinking about those things! I shake my head. Mentally, trying to dispense the vision of entwined limbs and heaving breaths. It's hard but I manage it as Cato ends his speech.

Is this going to be a common occurrence?

If so, I need to start wearing more face powder because my face will forever be red from the memories.

Cato

If District Two is monochrome, District Eight is composed of shades of grey. Fumes and factories filled the District. I never really saw the advantages of the Districts involved in agriculture until I stepped into this District. I almost gagged when I stepped out—the fumes were too much and everything seems to be cast in shade. There are no trees or flowers here, just steel buildings for manufacturing clothing.

After the Victory speech, we toured around the District. They showed us where the Peacekeeper Uniforms are manufactured and some of the weaving houses. I felt sick to my stomach on seeing young and old women, their fingers bruised and at times, bleeding from weavingbut still unable to stop for fear of the managers roaming the floor.

The Career's killed this District's Tributes, but seeing the state of their living, I couldn't help but wonder if maybe just maybe I actually did them a favor. Looking to my right, I see Katniss biting her lip, her eyes darkening in barely suppressed affront for these people. Brushing my fingers on her knuckle stops her musings.

She looks up at me and I see a reflection of the sadness I feel for these people. She almost leans in to my direction when her mentor suddenly clears his throat. Both of us stiffen when we notice our tour guide looking at the two of us in morbid curiosity.

When we got back to the train, we were all relieved to be leaving. That night, Katniss clung to me again when I brought her to pleasure with my mouth and hands. And I didn't stop until she came thrice—trying all the while to drive away the look of despondence that befell her expression since seeing the state of District Eight.

Katniss

District Seven was the opposite of District Eight. It was filled with trees and the people were very friendly. Again, I check on Cato because the Tributes of District Seven were killed during the bloodbath but I wasn't that worried because the people here are so humble and hospitable. They opened their houses to us and because it was a lumber District, most of their dwellings were made of logs, definitely better than the accommodations shown in the previous Districts.

They presented Peeta with paper so that he can draw to his heart's content, and gifted me with beautiful arrow carvings and of the mocking jay pin that I wore during the Games.

And they gave Cato an axe, which surprised both me and Peeta as well.

In delight at receiving a gift when he fully expected to be hated, he started challenging some of the local men to a chopping competition.

Observing him, I couldn't help the sudden rise in my temperature upon seeing him take off his shirt. A man in his late 30's—who greeted us warmly along with his wife and three kids—accepted his challenge and directed him towards a pile of wood to be used as firewood.

When they were signaled to start, I couldn't keep up the count of the halved logs because I became so distracted by the muscles flexing on his back and arms as he brings up the axe and slams it back down. The power and movements mesmerize me. The sweat that mars his forehead is also reminiscent of the night before when he tried to chase away the horrors that we say in District Eight. Just when I thought that I know all there is to know about a woman's pleasure, Cato always surprises me with more.

By the way, he lost.

But only because he missed the last log. Cato missed because before cutting the last log, he looked up towards me and saw me licking my lips unconsciously. He got so flustered that he missed the entire chopping stump completely.

Nonetheless, he laughed good-naturedly and gave the man a palm full of gold coins as a reward. The man thanked Cato profusely as did his entire family, while the women swarmed towards him holding a towel for him to use.

When they started touching him, I suddenly scowled. Maybe the friendly Districts aren't so good after all.

The rest of the day was spent fuming because the women didn't stop flirting despite Cato's seeming disinterest. It got so bad that Cato later joked while in bed together that he swore that he saw the greenery of the trees reflected in my eyes.

He laughed so hard until it was muffled when I covered his lips with mine and proceeded to remind on whom he actually belongs to.

End of Chapter 12